Sports
Burnsville Scores Key Softball Win Against Jefferson
Top-ranked Blaze rides Anderson's pitching, key hitting and clutch defense to a 2-0 win over sixth-ranked Bloomington Jefferson Monday
Burnsville Blaze senior pitcher Kelsey Anderson threw a three-hit shutout and the top-ranked Blaze won a huge game Monday with a 2-0 South Suburban Conference victory at sixth-ranked Bloomington Jefferson.
Burnsville (9-0 overall, 8-0 in conference play) scored one run in the top of the seventh and added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Jefferson fell to 11-3 on the season and 6-3 in the conference.
Anderson singled in the second inning and courtesy runner Erica Belter relieved her at first base. Belter stole second base to put herself in scoring position and came home on sophomore Megan Threlkeld’s double.
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Anderson and Burnsville's defense held Jefferson to one hit through four innings.
In the bottom of the fifth the Jaguars led off with a double and sacrificed the runner to third with one out. The Blaze wiggled out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground ball to end the inning.
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In the top of the seventh Burnsville junior Laura Nadeau walked with two outs. Junior Dani Wolk added an insurance run with a double to the fence to score Nadeau.
Jefferson managed to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but the Blaze held strong to preserve the shutout.
Anderson (9-0) allowed three hits and one walk while striking out 11 in going the distance.
Blaze shortstop Wolk was 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI to lead Burnsville. Anderson was 1-for-3, catcher Threlkeld was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and a RBI and right fielder Abby Johnson was 1-for-2.
Courtesy runner Belter and Haleigh Droege stole bases for the Blaze. Belter leads the team with eight stolen bases. Senior Lauren Smith had three walks in the game.
Burnsville plays at Eagan Wednesday in a game starting at 4:15 p.m.
NOTES: Every players in the Burnsville starting lineup is batting .290 or better, led by Anderson who is hitting at a .419 clip with 13 hits in 31 at bats. Currently on a six-game hitting streak, she has four doubles, seven RBI and a .578 slugging percentage on the season. Threlkeld is batting .379 with a double, a triple and a team-high nine RBI. Abby Harazin is hitting .393 with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.
