WORTHINGTON -- Even though the Worthington baseball team has struggled to score runs this season, Monday's non-conference game gave the Trojan offense a chance to get back on track.
Worthington (3-3) pounded out 11 hits and turned three double plays defensively to defeat Southwestern United, 18-2, on a cold and windy afternoon.
"We started hitting the ball a little better than we have been," Worthington second baseman Mike Vorwald said. "We didn't make many errors in the field, and we had good pitching. It's nice to get a big win like this."
Vorwald was instrumental in three Worthington double plays. Two started with shortstop Kyle Vaske, while Joe Ahrens started a double play in the third inning.
"It was fun," Vorwald said. "That's what we've been working on in practice. Having me and Vaske back from last year really helped our quickness up the middle."
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Worthington scored five runs in the first inning, three in the second and finished with 10 runs in the fourth for the victory.
"I think a lot of the runs were unearned," SWU head coach Tim Owen said. "I didn't think we'd get out of the first inning. We don't have the depth, and we're kind of struggling right now."
While the Trojan defense committed one error, the Wildcat defense made four errors and missed out on several other opportunities.
"In that last inning, you can't count that as an unearned situation, because you can't assume that double play," Owen said. "But if we turn that double play, the inning is over, and they go on to score 10 runs that inning."
Justin Lewis threw the first three innings for the Trojans and allowed one run on two hits and struck out five.
Kent Knutson threw the last two innings and allowed one run on three hits.
Travis Meinders led off the game with a walk and stole second. He would later score after Steven Kremer drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run of the game.
Vorwald, Matt King, Mitchell Jensen (who courtesy ran for Kremer) and Vaske each scored in the first inning, as Worthington had a 5-0 lead after the first.
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"In the first inning, I thought Garet (Rogers) pitched well enough to get out of there with one or two runs, but instead, they put up five," Owen said.
The Trojans turned a double play to end the second inning, and Meinders and Vorwald scored on a Joe Ahrens triple in the second.
Ahrens later scored on a Kremer sac fly, as Worthington had an 8-0 lead after two innings.
"We hit the ball better," Worthington head coach Pat Shaughnessy said. "Hopefully, we can keep going from here. We hit with a little more authority today."
With two runners on and no outs, Kirk McBreen hit into a double play in the third inning and barely beat the throw to first to prevent a Trojan triple play. However, he would advance to second and later score on a James Anderson double to put the Wildcats on the board.
It was during the fourth inning when the Trojans opened the game up offensively. Worthington sent 15 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs on seven hits. The offensive barrage was sparked by a two-RBI hit from Tony Jansen and with the bases loaded, Derek Busswitz hit a bases-clearing triple as Worthington went on to an 18-2 victory.
"We have to make some plays; that's going to be key," Owen said. "Obviously in the cold, it's hard to make those plays, but you just have to be mentally a little more ready, and I don't think we were fully there."
The Wildcats (3-3) will travel to Adrian today in a key conference game, while Worthington will travel to Marshall.
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R H E
SWU 001 01 -- 2 5 4
WHS 530 (10)X -- 18 11 1
Luverne 13, Adrian 3 (5 innings)
LUVERNE -- After starting the season off at 0-4, the Luverne Cardinals have stepped it up as of late, winning a pair of games against Redwood Valley Saturday and knocking off the visiting Adrian Dragons Monday at home to improve to 3-4 overall.
Against the Dragons, Luverne starter Adam Ossefoort picked up the victory on the hill, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking two in the five-inning contest.
Joey Bertrand suffered the loss for the Dragons (6-1), giving up two earned runs on three hits while striking out one and walking one in two innings of work.
Jeremy Hoff led the Cardinals at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double. Hoff was also hit by a pitch. Tanner Skattum also had three hits, going 3-for-3 with a trio of singles, while Brent Dinger and Taylor Van Santen each had a double.
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The Dragons were led by Matt Gades and Adam Diekmann, who each went 2-for-3.
Luverne visits Windom today, while Adrian hosts Southwestern United.
R H E
Adrian 200 01 -- 3 5 3
Luverne 024 34 -- 13 9 0
