Rockets Open Season With Win
John Marshall shut down an early Mankato East rally and then went on to defeat the Cougars 11-2 in Big Nine Conference softball on Monday.
The game was played under the dome at Rochester Regional Stadium and was East's second of the day against a Rochester foe. The Cougars loaded the bases in the top of the first, but were held to two runs. JM then scored the final 11 runs of the game.
JM took the lead for good with four runs in the fourth inning. Melanie Sadecki hit a two-run double in the inning and Olivia Evans followed with an RBI double. The Rockets then broke the game open with four more runs in the fifth inning.
Gina Pula drove in three runs for JM and Abby Gee went 2-for-4 and scored three runs. Abby Miles tossed a seven-hitter to pick up her first varsity win on the mound.
"The girls came out and played a good game to open the season," JM coach Thang Nguyen said. "We hit the ball hard, ran the bases smart, and did the little things right. Abby moved the ball around and we made all the plays behind her, including a couple double plays. Good to get out of the gym and get that first game under our belts."
JM (1-0, 1-0 Big Nine) will play Century on Friday night at Rochester Regional Stadium and play Northfield on Saturday night at the Dundas Dome.
John Marshall 11, Mankato East 2
Mankato East#200#000#0#—#2#7#3
John Marshall#100#442#x#—#11#9#0
Mankato East: Haley Stockman 2-for-3; Mackenzie Hendley 1-for-3, 2 RBI; Makena Wassman 2-for-3. Pitcher: Mia Makovsky (LP) 6 IP, 9 H, 11 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
John Marshall: Grace Freed 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 SB; Gina Pula 1-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 R; Melanie Sadecki 1-for-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R; Olivia Evans 1-for-2, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R; Abby Gee 2-for-4, 3 R, 1 SB; Kaitlyn Ward 1-for-2, 1 2B, 2 RBI. Pitcher: Abby Miles (WP) 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K.
