Waldorf opens with two wins
Dougherty throws no-hitter as Warriors sweep Martin Luther
ROSEMOUNT, Minn. - Waldorf righthander Chelsea Dougherty was dominating in her first start of the year here last week, no-hitting Martin Luther College in an 8-0 Waldorf win.
“Chelsey overmatched their hitters,” said Waldorf softball coach Denny Gilbertson. “Not bad for a first performance of the season.”
Dougherty struck out 11 Martin Luther hitters and walked just two to record her first mound win of the season.
Offensively, the Warriors banged out nine hits and took advantage of two Martin Luther errors.
According to Gilbertson, catcher Kristin Mariner got the offense going with a three-run homer in the fifth inning. The Warriors had scored single runs in the third and fourth innings to take an early 2-0 lead.
“Kristin's homer was key because it broke the game open,” Gilbertson said. “I thought we were patient offensively and that helped us have some good at-bats.”
Following Mariner's homer, Jen McClarney hit a solo shot to increase the Waldorf lead. Although he was hesitant to draw conclusions on how effective his team's offense will be this year, Gilbertson said his team will be balanced from top to bottom in its lineup.
McClarney added an RBI double in the fifth as she and Alicia Bata were the only Waldorf hitters with more than one hit. Also notching hits were centerfielder Louise Mudra, second baseman Andrea Blanchard, DH Jordan Story, and leftfielder Laura Read.
Defensively, the Warriors made four errors on the fast, artificial turf of the Irish Dome in Rosemount, something that didn't concern Gilbertson.
“It took a while for our players to get used to playing on such a fast surface,” he said. “The balls get to the fielders much quicker than normal.”
In game two, Rachel Hannam, coming off a successful basketball season, hit a grand slam in the first inning to give the Warriors a quick 4-0 lead. She later drove in a run with another hit, finishing with five RBI as Waldorf wound up 17-2 winners over Martin Luther in game two.
The Warriors banged out 12 hits and took advantage of three Martin Luther errors and 13 walks.
Eleven different Waldorf players had one hit each while Logan Story added two hits.
“Overall, I was pleased with the results and with our effort in both games,” Gilbertson said.
Up next for Waldorf is NCAA Division III team Augsburg College of Minneapolis. Those two teams will meet in Rosemount on March 12 and on March 15, the Warriors will take their annual southern trip, this time to Tuscon, Ariz.
Story created Mar 12, 2008 - 16:38:34 CDT.
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