By JIM LUTGENS

Sports Editor

The NRHEG High School softball team ran into a red-hot pitcher last Thursday and lost 7- 0 to Bethlehem Academy at Legion Field.

After a scoreless first two innings, the Cardinals put five runs on the board in the third and addd two in the fourth, finishing with 14 hits and one error.

The Panthers had one hit, a double by Preslie Nielsen. NRHEG struck out 14 times and did not draw a walk. The Panthers played errorless defense.

Faith Nielsen pitched all seven innings for the Panthers, allowing seven earned runs while striking out seven and walking one.

"Bethlehem Academy is an all-around good team," said NRHEG coach Kayley Cameter. "They're a strong defensive team with a good pitcher in the circle, and they were able to make solid contact with the ball and put it into the gaps. As a team, we made some good plays in the field and Faith Nielsen pitched well in the circle with seven strikeouts. The girls worked hard and we are continuing to learn and grow together as a team."

It was much closer Monday as the Panthers fell 6-5 in eight innings at Blooming Prairie.

Erin Peterson went 2-for-4. Adding one hit each were Isabel Stadheim, Olivia Berg, Presley Nielsen, Faith Nielsen, Izley Boerner, Chloe Stork and Tayler Schmidt. Presley Nielsen drove in three runs. Berg and Peterson doubled. Stadheim stole three bases. The Panthers struck out two times and drew one walk.

Faith Nielsn allowed two earned runs on eight hits, with four strikeouts and four walks in 7.2 innings in the circle.

The Panthers committd to errors, the Blossoms three.

"It always is a great battle against Blooming Prairie," said Camerer. "We came out ready to play and aggressive at the plate. We made some defensive errors and gave up some runs early in the game, but the girls responded well and continued to do their jobs. Faith Nielsen did a good job controlling the game in the cir- cle and our defense made some good plays behind her. At the plate we are starting to see the ball better and passing the bat down to the next person. Preslie Nielsen was big for us at the plate only getting one hit but she did a good job driving in runs off of solid hits to the deep parts of the field. Overall, I am proud of how we never let our mistakes snowball, focusing on controlling what we can control, and our aggressiveness at the plate."

NRHEG hosts Hayfield Thursday, April 25 at 4:30 and plays a weekend tournament at Caswell Park in Mankato.