The #4 ranked Class 3A Faribault Falcon fastpitch softball team picked up victories over host Lakeville North and Woodbury Saturday during a rain shortened tournament in Lakeville.  The Falcons were also supposed to play Elk River in the tournament but the game was cancelled due to the weather.  Faribault defeated Lakeville North 3-2 in 10 innings and then downed Woodbury in a rain shortened five inning game 1-0.

The Woodbury game was a classic pitcher's battle with Armbruster throwing a one hitter and the Royals pitcher allowing just two hits.  Woodbury had two errors and Faribault none.  The Falcons left 5 runners on base and the Royals 3

Armbruster had 10 strikeouts of the 18 batters faced in the 5 inning Woodbury game, 1 walk and 1 hit batter.  In the Lakeville North extra inning game Armbruster fanned 17 Panthers and had no walks while allowing 5 hits in the win.

Faribault was the home team against Lakeville North and junior second baseman Lauren O'Neil was placed at second base to start the inning as the international tiebreaker rule was implemented when the game was approaching two hours in length. Lauren Steinberg laid down a perfect bunt that resulted in a throwing error by the pitcher and O'Neil scored for the Falcons walk off win.

Faribault's other runs came on a solo homer by senior first baseman Cassie Swanson to lead off the second inning.   Sophomore right fielder Abby Lake started the 7th with a double.  Following back to back strike outs number nine hitter Lauren O'Neil clubbed a single and Lauren Steinberg executed a bunt to bring Lake home and tie the game sending it into extra innings.

Steinberg scored the only run in the Woodbury game also.  She walked to start the third inning and stole second base.  Steinberg scored on an fielding error off a ball hit by senior Bre Bresnahan and that's all the Falcons would need.

The defending Class 3A Champion WInona Winhawks will be in Faribault Monday for a showdown at Alexander Park North.  The first in-season poll had Winona rated #1 but the Winhawks suffered their second conference loss of the season Saturday when the Owatonna Huskies beat them in Winona 3-2 in 10 innings.  So Winona is in must win mode if they want a shot at a Big Nine Conference crown or even a share of the title.

The Falcons are the only unbeaten team in the Big NIne and with their two wins in Lakeville Saturday they are now 8-1 overall while sporting a 7-0 Big Nine mark.

Junior pitcher McKayla Armbruster received two honors recently.  The Minnesota Softball Hub named her their player of the week and she was featured on the Channel 45 Prep Spotlight Sunday night.

Our coverage Monday begins 4:45 p.m. on KDHL Radio, 920 AM and www.kdhlradio.com.  The best way to tune in is to download the KDHL Radio app.  When you tap the app you can listen to the game while you read the website content.

Diamond 4 Alexander Park North Faribault. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Diamond 4 Alexander Park North Faribault. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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