The Golden Rams were sitting on top of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) Southern Division but the opening game loss dropped them to second place behind St. Cloud. The win moved the Lady Spartans to sole possession of third place. With two forfeit wins against Riverland, Saturday’s scheduled opponent, they now have a 10-8 divisional record and are very close to clinching a berth in the Region XIII tournament next week.

The Golden Rams jumped to an early 3-0 first inning lead in game one but the Lady Spartans received a clutch bases loaded, two run single from Rylee Lindquist to take a 4-3 lead after one inning. The Rams tied the score in their half of the second but the Lady Spartans took the lead for good in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs on some Ram mistakes and Hannah Ekse and Lindquist RBI’s.

The Lady Spartans put together a nice two out rally in the bottom of the third. Macky Warne singled and scored on a blistering triple to the right center field gap by Allison Stafki. Stafki scored on a fielder’s choice by Anna Carlson.

The Rams rallied to make the score 9-6 but the Lady Spartans delivered the knockout blow in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs. Alexa Mortenson had an RBI single, Carlson plated two more with a double and Ekse picked up another run batted in to make the score 13-6. They added another run in the bottom of the sixth to win by the eight run rule 14-6.

Alexa Mortenson was turned in another strong pitching performance to notch her 13th win of the season. Carlson, Lindquist and Ekse each had two runs batted in and the top of the order, Warne and Stafki each scored four runs.

The Rams jumped out to a 10-0 lead after two innings in game two and looked to put the Lady Spartans away early, but in even the rain and the cold they rallied to play the full seven. Anna Carlson, playing with flu like symptoms, had a RBI in the bottom of the fourth ta make the score 10-1 and another two run double in the bottom of five to make the score 10-3. McKenna Erickson picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the sixth and in the seventh Stafki tripled again and scored on a Mortenson single.

The final score was 12-5, but the Lady Spartans received and excellent relief pitching performance by Macky Warne. Warne pitched the final five innings, only allowing a couple of Golden Ram runs.

The Lady Spartans overall record is now 15-10. They close out the regular season Friday at home against Rochester Community and Technical College. Game times are 3:00 and 5:00. Saturday’s games against Riverland College will not be played due to lack of players for them.