WORTHINGTON -- A big second inning was all the Trojans needed to pick up their first win of the season.
The Worthington softball team won its season opener in an 11-4 decision over Fairmont at Centennial Park Tuesday.
The Trojans put together a five-run second inning and a four-run fifth inning to gain a 1-0 record early on in the season.
"I am satisfied with how the game went," WHS coach Sam Baumgartner said. "We were sharp from the get-go. This was a good statement game for us. We made things happen today."
The Trojans busted the game open with their five-run second inning.
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Aleanna Heig and Jenny Majerus each walked to quickly put two runners on base with no outs. An infield single by Rebecca Linder loaded the bases for Worthington.
Then, a wild pitch by Fairmont's Sydney Ruen advanced all the runners and brought in the Trojans' first run of the game, making the score 1-0.
Kara Honius came up next for the Trojans, hitting an RBI-single to put the home team up by two. Grace Harms walked to once again load the bases.
Paige Kinley and Yadira Barragan hit back-to-back singles, each bringing in another run.
After recording two outs, another wild pitch by Ruen would bring in Kinley from third to make the score 5-0 entering the third inning.
"We did really good today," WHS pitcher Angela Robinson said. "It wasn't at all what I expected we'd do, but I'll take it. I thought our batting was the strongest part of our game today. We were strong and hit the ball well. I'd like to see more extra-base hits in our next game, but we got on base and got runs today, so that's good."
After a quick third inning, the Trojans added two runs in the fourth. Barragan scored on Robinson's infield single and Robinson scored when the Cardinals made a throwing error on an attempt to get Heig out at first, putting the Trojans up 6-0.
Robinson gave up two runs in the fifth inning to break her shutout, making the score 6-2 entering the bottom of the fifth.
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"I missed pitching during the offseason, so it felt pretty good being out there again," Robinson said. "I'd like to have more strikeouts next time, but I felt good. I'm really comfortable on the mound."
Worthington responded quickly to the Cardinals' two-run fifth inning by scoring four more runs.
Honius scored when relief pitcher Taylor Schultze walked Barragan. A wild pitch by Schultze would then score both Kinley and Barragan before K.C. Riley scored on Robinson's single to center field, giving the Trojans an 11-2 lead entering the final two innings.
But Fairmont wasn't done yet.
Rachel Tschumperlin hit a monster two-run homerun to left, bringing in Ruen and making the score 11-4.
"Angela made one mistake in the whole game and that was that hit to their No. 4 hitter," Baumgartner said. "But other than that, I didn't think any of their other hits were overly hard and Angela did a good job of getting the outs. She pitched well."
Six different players had hits for the Trojans, but all nine girls in the lineup reached base at least once during the game.
The Trojans finished the game with nine hits, compared to the Cardinals' seven.
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Worthington's next game is Tuesday against Edgerton/Southwest Christian at Centennial Park.
The Trojans are hoping to see similar success in that contest.
"This was our first game and it was a good measuring stick for us," Baumgartner said. "I am very happily surprised with how we did. Let's hope some of this continues to carry over to our future games."
R H E
FHS 000 022 0 -- 4 7 2
WHS 050 240 X -- 11 9 1
Daily Globe Sports Reporter Jocelyn Syrstad can be reached at 376-7335
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