To Fargo North pitcher Megan Dahl, Thursday was just another day at the office.
Dahl threw a no-hitter, struck out seven batters and hit a two-run double as the Spartans earned a 10-0 quarterfinal victory over Fargo South in the North Dakota state club softball tournament at Mickelson Field.
"It was an excellent way to start off the tournament," Dahl said.
Dahl started strong, striking out five of the first nine batters she faced.
Her team gave her all the run support she needed by scoring six runs in the third inning.
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Ali Hanson sparked the run with a single to short center, scoring Kayla Pierson.
Marin Larson and Lindsay Carey each knocked in runs before Dahl brought home Carey and Sarah Scheel on a double down the left-field line.
"It took us three innings to get going," North coach Jeff Toussaint said. "That's the fun thing about this team, they can start hitting at any time."
Dahl lost her chance at a perfect game in the fifth inning when she walked South's first batter.
It was Dahl's fourth no-hitter of the season.
"Did she (Dahl) have her best game? No," Toussaint said. "Did she do what we asked her to do? Yes."
The Spartans play West Fargo in the championship play-in game at 7 p.m. today.
South 000 00 - 0 0 0
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North 006 22 - 10 16 0
Larson, Kramlach (4) and Noriega. Dahl and Scheel. W-Dahl. L-Larson.
The Packers scored seven runs in the second inning en route to a victory over the Deacons.
Karlyn Kivi and Ingrid Scantleberry each had two-run triples in the inning.
Katie Bowar had a double in the fourth inning for the Deacons.
Shanley 000 00 - 0 3 2
West Fargo 070 03 - 10 6 1
Frappier, Hardesty (5) and Stallman. Jerger and Kivi. W-Jerger. L-Kivi.
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Kayla Bowar hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to lead the Deacons to a first-round victory.
Central scored all six of its runs in the fourth inning. But Shanley answered with seven consecutive runs to clinch the win.
Becky Gourde hit a two-run single in the fourth and Jess Lorz had an RBI triple in the fifth to lead the Deacons back.
Central 000 600 0- 6 2 0
Shanley 000 322 x- 7 8 5
Edwards, Thorson (6) and Anderson. Frappier and Stallman. W-Frappier. L-Edwards.
Bailee Noriega and Kylie Heyer each went 3-for-4, scored two runs and drove in two more to lead the Bruins to a first-round win.
Noriega was a home run shy of the cycle.
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Ashley Nelson cracked a two-run homer in the fourth, but it wasn't enough to bring the Knights back.
Jill Anstadt struck out nine for the Bruins.
Red River 000 200 2- 4 7 3
South 030 403 x- 10 9 5
Zavala and Klamm. Anstadt and Noriega. W-Anstadt. L-Zavala. HR-Red River, Nelson.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dustin Monke at (701) 241-5549
