Owatonna opens new stadium with a win

Owatonna softball celebrated the opening of Federated Field Thursday by beating Rochester Mayo 7-5 in a Big Nine Conference matchup.

The two sides exchanged leads over the course of the game, but the Huskies made sure the home crowd left with a win after finding their stride in the late innings.

“It was great. Such good energy here today. The girls were stoked to play tonight. They were so excited, and we were excited to open the place up. It was a good start. Mayo came out to play, and they really wanted to spoil it. They stepped up their game, got some hits to fall and runners on base, but we got out of jams,” said Owatonna head coach Jeremy Moran.

After a quiet first inning, Owatonna managed to kick off the scoring with a two-run second thanks to a string of hits from Sam Bogen and Izzy Radel.

The senior leaders sparked the offense, but the Spartans immediately answered with three runs in the top of the third to take the lead 3-2.

However, Rochester Mayo’s lead lasted only a half-inning as Owatonna scored again in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 3-3.

Neither side scored in the fourth, but the defining moment in the game came in the fifth, when Owatonna strung together three runs to jump out to a 6-3 lead.

Spearheading the rally was Kendra Bogen with a triple to the gap that set Owatonna up to do some serious damage.

According to Moran, the Huskies’ new turf field should benefit the team’s offense as the speed of balls hit in play – specifically into the outfield gaps – will result in harder stops for defenses, allowing the Huskies’ speedy runners to go for extra bases.

Zoie Roush and Sam Bogen followed the triple by recording hits and crossing the plate for Owatonna to gain the lead.

Rochester Mayo fought to stay in the game with two runs in the top of the sixth, but Owatonna scored again in the bottom of the inning to keep its multi-run lead intact at 7-5.

Senior ace Kennedy Hodgman shut down the Spartans in the final frame to earn herself the win after seven complete innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out six.

Sam Bogen led the Huskies offensively with four hits, two runs, and one RBI.

Owatonna followed the win with a 7-0 loss to New Prague at home but ended its week on a high note by sweeping Rochester John Marshall 17-1 and 15-0 in a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Huskies currently sit atop the Big Nine Conference at 4-1 overall and 4-0 in conference, and will travel to face Rochester Century on Thursday, April 18, at 5 p.m.

Player Stats

vs. Mayo

                        H    R    RBI      

S. Bogen          4    2    1         

I. Radel             2    1    2         

K. Bogen          2    2    0         

Z. Roush           2    1    1         

Krause              2    1    1         

Ringhofer          1    0    2         

Selbrade           1    0    0         

                        IP   H    R    K    BB

Hodgman          6    10   5    6    3