PREP SOFTBALL: Dutchmen shut out Cards

EDGERTON — Breana Van Dyke had no trouble with Luverne’s lineup.

The Edgerton/Southwest Christian pitcher tossed a one-hitter Monday in a 10-0 shutout victory over Luverne.

The Flying Dutchmen improved to 2-0 on the season with the win.

“Breana did fantastic out there for us,” E/SWC coach Andrew Fleischman said. “She was just awesome. Anytime she’s on the mound for us we know we have a good chance of winning the ballgame and today was no exception.”

Van Dyke started the game with six-straight strikeouts through the first two innings.

The first trouble Van Dyke saw was in the third inning. She walked the first batter she faced, but followed up with a strikeout. Then, Ariel Reker reached first on a throwing error, putting runners on first and second with one out.

A pop out gave Luverne two outs before Tara Sudenga was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But the following batter popped out to Van Dyke to end the inning and continue to keep a goose-egg on the board for the Cardinals.

Luverne’s only hit came at the start of the sixth inning. Ashley Olson hit a single to left-center field to snap Van Dyke’s no-hitter. Four Cardinals reached base that inning, but the Flying Dutchmen left the inning unscathed.

Van Dyke finished the game with 12 strikeouts, two walks, a hit batter and one hit.

“Bre did fantastic,” E/SWC senior Brittani Roskamp said. “A one-hitter is a pretty amazing day on the mound. I mean, she always does good, but this was exceptional.”

The Flying Dutchmen backed Van Dyke’s performance on the mound with an excellent day at the plate.

E/SWC quickly put two runs on the board in the first inning to take the lead.

Van Dyke’s double to left-center field brought in Jessica Menning from third. Roskamp later hit an RBI-single to put her team up 2-0 early.

Through the next three innings the Flying Dutchmen were held scoreless.

But a big fifth inning secured their lead.

Menning hit a leadoff double and Tara DeKam followed up with a walk to fill first base. A single by Van Dyke loaded the bases.

Tanner Gunnink then hit a grounder to third base, but the throw to home was miscalculated, so Menning scored on the error and the bases remained loaded.

Roskamp followed up with a two-RBI double to center to make the score 5-0. Sarah Post then hit a two-RBI single to left-center and Whitney Butson hit an RBI-single to make the score 8-0 late in the game.

E/SWC added two more runs in the sixth inning to 10-run Luverne and end the game an inning early.

“Our sticks were really good today,” Roskamp said. “We hardly had any strikeouts and I think everyone got on base at one point in the game.”

Offensively, the Flying Dutchmen were led by Van Dyke, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, an RBI and a double. Post was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and two RBIs. And Roskamp was 2-for-4 with a run, a double and three RBI.

Olson pitched for Luverne. She finished the game with 12 hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

The Flying Dutchmen play again today against Mountain Lake/Butterfield-Odin, while Luverne (2-1) takes onWindom on Thursday.

“If we keep doing what we did today, we can beat just about any team,” Fleischman said. “We hit well and everyone did a nice job coming through for us. It was a big day for just about everyone.”

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Daily Globe Sports Reporter Jocelyn Syrstad can be reached at 376-7335.

Tags: southwest christian, edgerton, sports, prep, softball, luverne