Undefeated Burnsville Turns Away Lakeville South

Top-rated Burnsville softball just keeps finding ways to stay undefeated.

In a tense South Suburban Conference matchup Thursday, the Blaze made some mistakes, but got clutch hits, clutch pitching and key defensive stops when they needed them. As a result the Blaze claimed a 3-1 win over visiting Lakeville South.

Burnsville improved to 8-0 on the season and 7-0 in the conference.

Lakeville South fell to 3-4 in both conference and all games.

Burnsville rallied from a 1-0 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the second inning and then added an insurance run in the fifth.

Megan Lehnen and Kelsey Anderson opened the second inning with back-to-back singles. Abby Harazin knocked in Lehnen with a fielder’s choice out at first base, and then Megan Threlkeld scored courtesy runner Erica Belter to make it a 2-1 Blaze advantage.

The game was one of missed opportunities and knockout pitching.

Burnsville ace Kelsey Anderson met the challenge several times with the game on the line. Lakeville South advanced runners to scoring position in the first, second, third and fifth innings, none of which crossed the plate.

Lakeville South took an early lead by scoring a run in the first inning. Molly Olson singled and scored on a hit by Kendall Palfi. The Cougars then loaded the bases with only one out.  Anderson struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

That set the pattern for the game. Anderson consistently pitched her way into trouble and then pitched her way out of it.

In the third inning, for example, Lakeville South’s Lindsay Uphoff reached base on an error and advanced to third on a double by Taylor Donnelly. Anderson then proceeded to strike out the next two Lakeville South batters.

Burnsville added a big run in the bottom of the fifth as Threlkeld singled and then scored two outs later on a triple by Laura Nadeau.

Anderson got the win, allowing seven hits but only one earned run. She walked just two batters and struck out 13.

Burnsville’s Threlkeld was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Nadeau was  1-for-3 with an RBI, while Danielle Wolk, Lauren Smith, Lehnen and Anderson were each 1-for-3.

Lakeville South senior pitcher Kendall Palfi went 2-for-4 and drove in Lakeville South’s run in the first inning. Taylor Donnelly and Kylie Stoberg were each 2-for-3.

Palfi took the loss, allowing three runs, all of them earned. She struck out seven and walked none.

Burnsville has another big game Monday as the Blaze plays at sixth-ranked Bloomington Jefferson (9-2, 5-2) in a game starting at 4:15 p.m.

Lakeville South hosts Apple Valley on Friday at 4:15 p.m.

Score                         1          2          3         4         5        6         7      --       R             H             E

Lakeville South            1         0          0         0         0        0        0      --       1              7              1

Burnsville                     0         2         0         0          1        0        x      --       3              6              1