ALDEN &045; Both teams hit the ball well.

The difference was the United South Central Rebels fielded it a lot better.

The Rebels rapped out 15 hits and took advantage of seven Alden-Conger errors in a 14-5 nonconference softball victory at Alden Friday.

&uot;They hit the ball and played well defensively,&uot; said Knights coach Gary Nelson, whose team had 11 hits. &uot;The breaks didn’t go our way.&uot;

Neither did the first inning, when the Rebels put six runs on the board. They added two in the second and one in the third for a 9-1 lead after three.

Hilary Wacholz was the winning pitcher, surviving eight walks while striking out four batters.

Steph Lackey, who pitched a five-inning no-hitter a day earlier, took the loss. She struck out seven, walked four and hit two batters.

Nichole Fulton led the hit parade for the Rebels, going 3-for-4 with a double and a triple. Andrea Eilertson was 2-for-4, Wacholz 2-for-4, Tami Miller 2-for-5. Adding one hit apiece were Kim Schultz, Shannon Schrader, Amanda Jacobs and Lindsey Albers.

Molly Wasmoen, Erin Bremseth and Lackey were all 2-for-3 for the Knights. Kendra Mathiason and Nicole Bute were 2-for-4. Mackenzie Johnson had one hit.

The Knights, 7-6 overall, host Blooming Prairie in a key Gopher Conference game Monday. The Knights are 5-2 in conference play while the defending champion Blossoms have one loss.

The Rebels return South Central Conference play Tuesday at Wells against St. James.

USC624

002

3 &045; 14

15

3

A-C101

121

0 &045;

5

11

7

WP &045; Hilary Wacholz

LP &045; Steph Lackey