About last night
Williamson finishes strong; UST and Dordt hockey fall
Brandon Williamson has had a good spring with the Cincinnati Reds, but he had his best outing of the season on Friday night.
Also on Friday, some area athletes were involved in important hockey games.
At Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., Williamson has pitched into the sixth inning for the first time since 2023.
The Martin County West graduate was the winning pitcher for the Reds as he went 5.1 innings, vs. the Chicago Cubs, allowing one run on six hits, walking one and striking out two. The Reds led 8-1 when he left the game and they held on for an 8-6 win.
Matt and Nancy Prunty of Welcome have been in Arizona this month and have attended Williamson’s outings.
According to Matt’s math, in his last four appearances, Williamson has pitched 14.1 innings with s stretch of 13 consecutive shutout innings.
Williamson had a shortened 2024 season that was halted by Tommy John surgery. He missed all of 2025.
At Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, Sherburn native Carsen Musser had a busy night for in goal for St. Thomas as he made 35 saves in 56:42 with 27 coming in the first two periods.
Minnesota State won the Mason Cup emblematic of the CCHA championship for the second straight year and fourth time in five years, beating the Tommies 4-1.
The Mavericks, 22-10-7, get the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and will learn their region assignment on Sunday. Regions will be played in Sioux Falls, Albany, N.Y., Loveland, Colo. and Worchester, Mass.
St. Thomas (21-12-5) will wait on an at-large bid.
In St. Louis, the Dordt University men’s club hockey team had its season end with a 3-1 loss to Calvin in pool play at the ACHA Division III tournament. The Defenders were 1-2 at the tournament, losing 6-4 to Omaha and winning 3-2 in overtime over Purdue.
Two Windom graduates play for Dordt, senior defenseman Zach Espenson and freshman forward Nick Espenson.
Dordt finishes the season with a 28-5 record.
Look for more newsletters throughout the weekend.