“The first game was quite the shocker for us, we came out swinging and scored two in the first and then fell silent the rest of the game,” reported Fergus Falls Head Coach Lisa Truax. “Sauk Rapids-Rice eventually found one pitch with bases loaded and two outs to launch over and end the game.”

Fergus Falls managed only four hits in the game, doubles from Karyssa Eberle and Kacey Fredrickson, and singles from Madi Budke and Laci Strom.  Strom drove in both runs wither first inning base hit, scoring Eberle and Tori Ratz.  Fredrickson struck out 11 in the game and allowed just one earned run.

In game two the Otters took a 4-0 lead with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.  Sauk Rapids-Rice scored one in the sixth, but the Otters answered with two more in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 6-1.  The Storm scored in the top of the seventh to put the final at 6-2.  Rylynn Krein (7IP, 5H, 2ER, 13K, 4BB) was the winning pitcher.  She also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles, a run batted in and two runs scored.  Strom (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 2B), Ratz (2-4, R, 3SB) and Lizzy Moxness (1-2, RBI, SB) were the offensive leaders for Fergus Falls.

“Luckily the girls rebounded quickly and found their bats,” said Coach Truax. “We had multiple players getting solid strokes on the ball for extra base hits.  Krein tossed a gem and the defense backed her up.”