ALDEN &045; Coach Gary Nelson figured it was only a matter of time before the Alden-Conger softball team ended a season’s worth of frustration against an unfortunate opponent.

The time was Friday, and the Knights finally got their first win of the year with a 17-2, five-inning pounding of Martin Luther at Alden.

&uot;We just hadn’t got off the schneid,&uot; said Knights coach Gary Nelson, whose team was mentioned as a dark horse favorite in the Gopher Conference but started the season 0-6. &uot;We’ve been in some close games, but we were giving games away with errors. It was a matter of us just getting mad and saying enough was enough.

&uot;It’s time to start playing ball. We’re halfway through the season.&uot;

The Knights’ only error Friday came on the lead-off batter and led to two Martin Luther runs, but that’s all the visitors would get off Steph Lackey. The sophomore right-hander allowed only four hits, striking out four and walking two.

Kendra Mathiason was 3-for-3 to lead the offense. Nicole Bute went 2-for-2, Katie Jensen 2-for-2, Erin Bremseth 2-for-3 and Heather Haukoos 2-for-3. Angie Wichmann and Kenzie Johnson also had run-scoring hits.

The Knights play Monday against Medford at Owatonna.