Alex softball: Brainerd outlasts Cards in CLC opener

• Ellingson

Echo Press File Photo by Eric Morken Sophomore Taylor Ellingson took the ball in Alexandria's season opener in Brainerd on Tuesday night.

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The Alexandria softball team got to Brainerd starter Nikki Anderson more than a lot of teams do in the season opener but it wasn’t enough in a 9-3 loss on the Warriors’ home field.

Anderson will pitch for the University of Minnesota next season. First, she wants to finish off her storied career in Brainerd with another state tournament appearance.

The Cardinals got to her for a couple runs early before she settled down through the middle innings. Alexandria led 2-0 after the top of the second. The Warriors answered with one of their own in the bottom of the inning before taking the lead for good with two in the third.

The game stayed close before Brainerd broke things open in the sixth. The Warriors scored five runs in the inning, aided by a couple walks and errors from Alexandria that was mixed in with some timely hitting from Brainerd. The Cardinals added their final run in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough in a cold season opener.

“Overall, there were many positives in a game that was close most of the way,” head coach Randy Albers said. “We ended up with five hits off of Nikki Anderson, who will be pitching at the University of Minnesota next year.”

Taylor Ellingson, Sarah Bruzek, Lauren Trumm, Dani Carlson and Jess Syvrud collected those hits for Alexandria. Ellingson and Syvrud each added RBIs.

Ellingson started from the circle and pitched five innings. She scattered seven hits and struck out five. Emily Kuennen finished off the game, allowing two hits and striking out two.

The Cardinals were scheduled to open the home portion of their schedule last night, Thursday, against Sauk Rapids-Rice. They will be back on the road next Thursday when they travel to St. Cloud Apollo for another conference game.

GAME SUMMARY

ALEXANDRIA 020 000 1 – 3

BRAINERD 012 015 X – 9

ALEXANDRIA PITCHING – Ellingson – L, 5IP, 7H, 4R, 5SO; Kuennen – 1IP, 2H, 5R, 2SO

ALEXANDRIA HITTING – Ellingson – 1 hit, RBI; Bruzek – 1 hit; Trumm – 1 hit; Carlson – 1 hit; Syvrud – 1 hit, RBI

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, cardinals, softball