The Marshall softball team ran into the fourth-ranked team in Class AA on Thursday, and Pipestone Area showed why it has achieved that lofty ranking.
The Arrows swept the Tigers 13-0 and 11-2 in a Southwest Conference doubleheader in Pipestone.
"We knew we were going to have to play good defense and manufacture some offense," said Marshall head coach Jack Houseman.
In the first game, Marshall (3-9 overall, 3-5 SWC) was one-hit by Tasia Woelber. Amy Welu was the lone Tiger to reach on a hit.
In Game 2 Marshall took a 2-1 lead after the first inning with Kelli Vanleeuwe scoring Katie Kaiser, and Welu driving in Brooke Louwagie.
"I was proud of the girls in the second game," Houseman said. "Putting some runs on the board. That was nice to see them fight back."
Fact Box
Game 1
Marshall000 00-0 1 5
Pipestone Area191 2X-13 9 0
M-Callie Graff. P-Tasia Woelber. WP-Woelber. LP-Graff. 2B: P-Libby Schneider. HR: P-Tiffany Woelber.
Game 2
Pipestone Area114 003 2-11 11 1
Marshall200 000 0-2 5 3
P-Kelly Nettick, Tasia Woelber (3). M-Callie Graff. WP-Nettick. LP-Graff. 2B: P-Nettick, Tiffany Woelber, Libby Schneider, Ta. Woelber. HR: P-Nettick.
The Arrows (14-0, 12-0) tied it up in the top of the second and took the lead after that.
"We couldn't get started up after that," Houseman said. "Lots of strikeouts."
The Tigers will be in action again on Tuesday when they play host to Luverne in a make-up date from earlier this season.
"We are going to continue to get Callie ready. She's still working on her control," Houseman. "She had some nice change-ups she threw, so we're going to keep getting her ready for the end of the season."