Maddie Hoff Throws No-Hitter as Blue Jays Sweep Minot in WDA Opener

Maddie Hoff retired Minot without a hit for four innings Thursday inside the University of Jamestown's Nelson Family Bubble, striking out 10 and walking just two as the Blue Jays opened West Dakota Association play with a 20-0 run-rule victory. Jamestown then took the nightcap 14-4, sweeping the doubleheader and announcing early that this program intends to be a factor in conference play.

Hoff, a junior right-hander, struck out eight consecutive batters at one stretch. Neither of Minot's two baserunners advanced past first base all afternoon, and the no-hitter ended on the Blue Jays' terms: Kinlee Klettke roped her second double of the game in the fourth inning, scoring the 19th and 20th runs to trigger the mercy rule.

The offense had been building to that moment since the second inning. Jamestown sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored five runs. In the third, the Blue Jays batted around again for seven more on six hits, five of which went for extra bases. Klettke, a sophomore center fielder, powered an RBI double off the left field wall during that stretch, and Jamestown led 12-0 before the fourth inning began.

Klettke and Rilie Wolf each finished the opener with four RBIs. Wolf, a sophomore catcher, started the second-inning surge with a two-run single. Brooke Jackson went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Jordan Mikkelson contributed two hits, including a double and a triple, and two RBIs. Megan Jarrett added two hits and two RBIs. Eight of the nine Blue Jay starters recorded at least one hit.

The nightcap continued the pattern. Jamestown scored in clusters and finished 14-4 in five innings, dropping Minot to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in WDA play.

The Blue Jays are 2-0 in conference with a no-hitter already on the ledger. For Hoff, eight consecutive strikeouts in a WDA opener is a calling card that will follow the junior right-hander the rest of the season.