Kari Gibb/MDN Minot North freshman Eilese McCann tags out Mandan senior Jenna Wandler in the top of the second inning in game one of a double header.

The Mandan softball team made the trip north to play a doubleheader against first year varsity team Minot North. The Braves brought a fairly seasoned team with three seniors, six juniors and a pair of sophomores to tackle the Sentinels, who played with two juniors, four sophomores and six freshmen on the roster.

Despite the high energy start, combined with an early for the Sentinels, the Braves were able to stay focused and rebound to take wins in both games at Scheels Complex.

Mandan 10,

Minot North 9

Minot North started the series with Mandan showcasing offensive capabilities in the bottom of the first inning. Singles by Sentinels sophomores Kinzy Welstad and Kate Coleman put runners in place for Tiecyn Hertz to single and score the first run.

Next, junior Cadey Shipman was walked and sophomore Aven Kelley hit a double to make the score 3-0 for Minot North with two outs. Sentinels freshman Eilese McCann was then hit by a pitch and stole second base. Freshman Mya Bagwell was walked and freshman Mylee Ackerman hit a double to score another run.

The second inning was scoreless thanks to McCann tagging out a Mandan base runner at home plate for the third out and holding the score at zero for the visitors.

Mandan came alive at the top of the third inning, scoring three runs and holding Minot North to no runs in the bottom half of the inning. .

Each team added two runs in the fourth. The Sentinels’ Hailey Holte was walked, Westad singled, and then Coleman singled to score both runners to maintain the lead at 6-5 going into the fifth inning.

Each team added a run in the fifth inning. Minot North began with McCann hitting a triple and Bagwell was walked. Ackerman then reached on an error in fielding her fly ball where McCann scored for the one run in the inning and the Sentinels holding the 7-6 lead.

With no score for the Braves in the top of the sixth, the Sentinels added runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Hertz reached on a single while Shipman was walked. Kelley doubled to score one run. McCann singled to score the next run and Minot North took a 9-6 lead into the seventh inning of play.

In the top of the seventh inning, Minot North looked to be ready for the win with two outs from the first two Mandan batters. Mandan’s Hope Hanson and Ellie McElvanie each reached on a single and a walk respectively. Next, McKinzie Yantzer and Savannah Gustavsson each had a single that narrowed the Minot North score 9-8 with the two out. Then Jenna Wandler doubled to score two and give the Braves the 10-9 lead and the win.

Welstad was 3 for 4 in the game while Coleman was 3 for 5 with two RBIs for Minot North. Hertz was 2 for 2 while Kelley and McCann were each 2 for 3 in the game. As a team, the Sentinels were 13 for 27 in the effort. Welstad pitched seven innings and allowed 10 runs on 16 hits with an earned run total of nine in the loss.

Mandan 10, Minot North 0

In the second game, Mandan was 7 for 28 batting while Minot North was 2 for 23 at the plate. Sentinels McCann and Coleman each made contact with the ball in the game. Shipman, Kelley and freshman Cole Kotaska each walked to reach base.

Hertz pitched seven innings and allowed ten runs on the seven hits with an earned run mark of seven for the game.

Minot North will host Bismarck High on Thursday, May 2, for the next doubleheader.