Faribault left fielder Marissa Swingen had a tough time knowing where to play in Todd Park Tuesday afternoon.

Wednesday, May 10, 2000

Faribault left fielder Marissa Swingen had a tough time knowing where to play in Todd Park Tuesday afternoon.

The wind was blowing her way and the Austin power hitters were hitting the ball her way. She had two shots hit over her head. Then having backed up deep into the left-field corner, she had a pop up over shortstop land in front of her. All those Austin hits resulted in a 10-1 win for the Packers over the Falcons (3-11, 1-10).

Austin played another errorless game which has become routine. It was their fifth straight.

"Confidence," was the one word third baseman Megan Olsen used when asked what the key was to Austin’s stellar defensive play. "We work well together and we believe we can get it done."

That defense backed up another strong Amy Kelly pitching performance. The freshman Kelly gave up one earned run on four hits and one walk. She struck out seven with more than half looking at a low outside corner pitch.

"She hits that spot very consistently," Austin coach Todd Waterbury said.

Austin started swatting balls Swingen’s way in the first inning. The first couple were well foul, coming off the bats of Brooke Gentzler and Olsen. In the second inning, Jessica Peck smacked one over Swingen’s head for a double. Peck was later tagged out.

Then in the third inning, Austin mounted a big rally. Tiffany Poirier led off the inning with a single to left. Sara Turvey then beat out a slap hit and Kelly sacrificed the runners over to second and third. Lauren Feller then was hit by a pitch bringing up Gentzler with the bases loaded. Gentzler hit a one-hop hot shot to short that Nikki Graham couldn’t handle and all runners were safe. Olsen then smacked one over Swingen and into the storm fence for a ground rule double that put Austin up 4-1.

"We just had to get things done," Olsen said. "I mostly pull the ball. That is where my power is."

Gentzler then scored on an errant pick-off throw from Faribault catcher Emily Erickson that hit Gentzler in the back. A hit batter later, Olsen scored on a Jamie Nieland single.

The next time up Olsen hit another long fly to left. This time Swingen was in the right position – deep, deep left – to make the catch, but her troubles weren’t over. In the sixth, after a two-run double from Kelly, Feller reached on an error before Gentzler hit a pop up just over short.

"She (Swingen) had a little trouble out there," Olsen said. "Brooke hit that short one that dropped in."

It did, bringing home Feller from third. Feller was there after moving from first to third on a wild pitch that scored pinch runner Gina Golberg.

"We got some good base running today," Waterbury said. "Feller was aggressive and did some heads up running."

Austin (8-7, 7-5) travels to Owatonna on Thursday and to Rochester John Marshall (Watson Complex) Saturday morning.