PREP SOFTBALL: Tigers split a pair at section tournament
MANKATO – The Marshall softball team was down to their final out of the season trailing by a run to the Waseca Bluejays. With a runner on second, Marshall’s Paige Andries stepped up to the plate, and with a single up the first base line that snuck underneath the outstretched glove of the first baseman, delivered a walk-off to lift the Tigers to a 14-13 win and keep their season alive.
Andries said the final at-bat was nerve-wracking, but she had to do was make contact to ensure victory for her team.
“I was really nervous and I just had to make contact to get a single,” Andries said. “I knew Katelyn (Schauer) was fast enough to get home, so I just had to put contact on it.”
In a back-and-forth affair that saw a total of 27 runs and 28 hits, it came down a final inning rally from the Tigers to ensure their fate in the postseason tournament.
With Marshall down 13-11, Morgan Radel got the rally started with an infield single before Maddie Penske got a single of her own to put runners on first and second. After a groundout by Shelby Versaevel, Radel scored on a wild pitch to make it 13-12. Katelyn Schauer then came up with a RBI single to cut to tie the game before Andries came through with the game-winner.
The Tigers started their second game with a pair of runs in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. After a scoreless second, Waseca took its first lead of the night with a pair of runs to go up 4-2. But the Tigers battled back in the bottom of the frame, scoring two of their own thanks to an error and a wild pitch to regain the lead at 4-2.
The Bluejays responded with a six-hit, six-run top of the fourth to go back in front, 8-4. Marshall would then counter with four runs of their own, including a two-run homer by Versaevel to tie it at 8-8.
Waseca added three more runs in the next inning to take an 11-8 lead, before Marshall retied it in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Versaevel’s two-run single.
The Bluejays then got two runs across in the top of the seventh, paving the way to Marshall’s comeback in the bottom half of the inning.
Andries said each answer Marshall had to Waseca’s scoring gave them more confidence to come from behind to win.
“It felt good to get three runs and get caught up each time. It kind of gave us hope and more confidence in ourselves,” Andries said.
Radel led the way for the Tigers in Game 2 with a 4 for 4 day at the plate with two doubles and three RBIs while Versaevel went 3 for 4 with a home run and five RBIs and Penske went 4 for 5 with an RBI.
Marshall coach Jack Houseman said their key on offense was getting the bat squared up to the ball and making good contact.
“I think the girls started to level the bat out and put it on the same plane as the ball,” Houseman said. “We’ve been trying to get that bat squared up on the ball and not to drop our hands too much.”
Karley Polejewski was the starter for the Tigers in Game 2, going five innings while allowing 11 runs on 12 hits while striking out two. Wegner earned the victory for Marshall in the circle, tossing the final two innings while allowing two runs on two hits.
Before the Tigers extended their season in grand style, they faced the Mankato East Cougars in their opening game to the section tournament.
The Tigers struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. After Lenei Estrada drew a walk and Radel beat out an infield single, Penske slapped a single to bring in the game’s first run. Katelyn Schauer then recorded an RBI double to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead early.
Unfortunately for Marshall, that would be the only lead they would have, as the Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-2 lead and never looked back.
Mankato East then added to its lead in the bottom of the second with four runs to take a 7-2 lead. The Cougars four-hit inning was highlighted by a two-run ground rule double that rolled under the fence.
An inning later, Mankato East pushed its advantage to 10-2 thanks to a bases-clearing double. After a scoreless fourth inning, the Tigers struck back with a run to make it 10-3. After a pair of hits by Radel and Penske to lead off the inning, Andries got a single to go through the infield to bring in Radel. Marshall would then load the bases, but the Cougar defense would hold off any additional runs to keep it at 10-3.
The Cougars would respond with a run of their own in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI triple. Mankato East then added a solo home run by Haley Stockman to put the score at 12-3.
Penske led the way for the Tigers, going 3 for 4 with a RBI. Katelyn Schauer got a hit and an RBI as well for Marshall.
Wegner took the loss for Marshall, going six innings while giving up 12 runs on 12 hits while striking out one.
The Tigers struggled on the defensive end, dropping pop-ups and missing grounders that led to multiple runs by both opposing teams.
Houseman said he was pleased with their approach to the plate in the first game but added their defensive mistakes were too costly.
“The first game I liked the way we approached our at-bats; we had some key hits there and got a lead in the first inning which was good to see. We had other opportunities throughout the game to cash in, and basically the whole tale of our night was our defense,” Houseman said. “We came back though and had a good rally to get the last one.”
Marshall will face New Ulm Saturday at noon in Mankato.
Houseman said their biggest takeaway will be being prepared to battle right from the first pitch and not rely on waiting for good things to happen.
“We’ve got to be ready to battle every inning and every at-bat and pitch,” Houseman said. “We can’t wait for the last inning for something good to happen; we have to make it happen.”
Mankato East 12, Marshall 3
Marshall 200 010 0 – 3 11 2
Mankato 343 011 1 – 12 14 2
HITTING: Marshall (A. Shauer 1-4; Radel 1-4, 2 runs; Penske 3-4, 2B, RBI; Versaevel 1-4; K. Schauer 2-4, 2B, RBI; Andries 1-4, RBI; Timmerman 2-3).
PITCHING: Marshall (Wegner 6-14-12-7-6-1).
Marshall 14, Waseca 13
Waseca 002 630 2 – 13 14 3
Marshall 202 403 3 – 14 16 5
HITTING: Marshall (Estrada 2-4, 4 runs; Radel 4-4, 2 2Bs, 3 RBIs, 5 runs; Penske 4-5, RBI, run; Versaevel 3-4, HR, 5 RBIs, 2 runs; K. Shauer 1-3, run; Andries 1-5, RBI; Timmerman 1-4).
PITCHING: Marshall (Polejewski 5-11-11-7-4-3; Wegner 2-3-2-2-0-1).