Kailey Ahlstrom is no stranger to dealing strikeouts.

The Prior Lake left-hander has been strong in the pitcher's circle all season, recording double-digit strikeout totals in all but two games.  

In Wednesday's matchup with South Suburban Conference foe Farmington, the junior played a familiar hand, ringing up 11 Tigers and helping lead the Lakers to a 3-2 victory. 

After Prior Lake took the lead in the top of the fourth on a sac fly from senior Katie Stewart, it was up to Ahlstrom to close the game with strong pitching.

“It’s always a big mental battle as a pitcher," Ahlstrom said. "It’s on me to strike out girls and to put pitches in the right spot."

This was the third meeting of the year for Prior Lake (10-1, 7-1), ranked No. 7 in the coaches' Class 4A poll, and No. 5-4A Farmington (10-2, 7-1), but this one carried more weight as last of the team's two league contests.

The Lakers had won the previous nine games, including a 7-0 victory in a nonconference matchup against the Tigers at the Mankato East Tournament in late April, and Wednesday's victory avenged Prior Lake's only loss -- a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Farmington in the season opener.

The rubber match prove tight, but momentum picked up for the Lakers in the top of the second inning when junior Sydney Trees hit a ball deep to left field that just stayed fair inches away from the foul pole.

The Tigers quickly added a run in the second and third innings to tie the score 2-2.

From there, Ahlstrom and her counterpart, senior Maddie Muelken, took over. Muelken kept Farmington within within striking distance and finished the game with five strikeouts.

The Tigers offense had chances to tie or take the lead late, getting runners on base several times in the sixth and seventh innings. But Farmington could not convert the opportunities into runs thanks to a combined effort from Ahlstrom and her defense.

“Every pitch is a battle for our team, and we just took it one inning at a time,” Ahlstrom said.

This was Prior Lake's second game this season decided by a single run, and Lakers coach Matt Haefner said his team prepares to play close contests.

“I always tell them that we may not score six or seven runs a game, and when it is as close as this, it comes down to the small things,” Haefner said.

With the impressive performance against the Tigers, Ahlstrom improved her season record to 8-1 and brought her strikeout total to 103. She also helped Prior Lake extend its winning streak to 10 games and move into a tie with Farmington atop the South Suburban standings.

Prior Lake extended its winning streak to 10 games after a 3-2 victory at South Suburban Conference foe Farmington on Wednesday afternoon.

Lakers pitcher Kailey Ahlstrom struck out 11 batters while fellow junior Sydney Trees supplied the offense, blasting a two-run home run in the second inning to give Prior Lake (10-1) an early lead. 

The Tigers (10-2), who are No. 5 in the coaches' Class 4A rankings, answered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from sophomore Elly Rust. Farmington tied the game 2-2 in the third inning with a big RBI double from sophomore Olivia Hazelbaker.

Prior Lake took the lead in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI from Katie Stewart, and Ahlstrom did the rest for the No. 7-4A Lakers, holding the lead with a strong finish from the circle.

Tigers senior pitcher Maddie Muelken turned in a solid effort, finishing with five strikeouts while going 2-for-3 with a double at the plate.

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