GRAFTON (NewsDakota)- Story by Kyle Hewitt

A cold and windy afternoon in Grafton didn’t hinder the Cardinal offense as they racked up fourteen hits and defeated Midway-Minto 12-6 to advance to Mondays Region 2B Semifinal matchup with Thompson. After a scoreless first inning the Cardinals would break the ice with a four-run second inning that started with a Lauren Hendrickson double and capped off with an RBI double from Maara Kutz. The four runs were aided by a Mustang error, hit batter, and Kennedy Trostad RBI groundout. The Cards would get another run in the third inning as Calleigh Hewitt scored on a wild pitch. The fourth inning appeared to be a possible run rule in the making as the Cards (9-7) would tack on four more runs highlighted by a 2-run homer from Hewitt (3rd of the year).  Aubrey Neis added an RBI single and Kaydence VanRay added an RBI sacrifice fly. The Cards would leave the bases loaded to end the inning and led 9-0. The Cards left 15 runners stranded on the bases in the game.

The Mustangs (8-6) would battle back scoring a single run in the fourth on a Krystal Lopez RBI single (first hit of the game for Midway-Minto). The Mustangs would add five more runs in the fifth on three hits, a walk, three stolen bases, and one Cardinal error cutting the lead to 9-6. The Cards would seal the win in the top of the sixth with three more runs aided by two Mustang errors. Hewitt would get the mound win going all seven innings with seven strikeouts and going 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI. Brynn Smith went 3-for-6 at the plate with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Kutz finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored.  Ella Volk went 2-for-3, was hit by pitch, and also reached on a walk. Hendrickson finished 2-for-5 with a run scored.

The Cardinals will play on Monday in Mayville against Thompson in the Region 2 Tournament Semifinal with coverage on KDAK The Cardinal beginning at 12:45 PM.

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