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PREP SOFTBALL: Wabasso softball splits pair of games in section tournament

Photo by Sam Thiel Wabasso’s Emily Benz delivers a pitch during their game against KMS on Saturday. The Rabbits fell to the Saints 9-1, but defeated LQPV to extend their season.

COTTONWOOD – After opening their section tournament schedule with a pair of convincing five-inning victories against Adrian Area and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton last Tuesday, the Wabasso softball team looked to continue their hot start against Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg on Saturday afternoon.

The No. 1 seed Saints had other ideas, however, as KMS defeated Wabasso 9-1. KMS started off the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. The Saints then exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the third, highlighted by three doubles that plated a combined four runs to break the game open at 7-0.

The Saints then added another run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 8-0, before Wabasso got its only run of the game in the top of the sixth thanks to a sacrifice. KMS then tacked on one final run in the bottom of the sixth to bring it to the 9-1 final.

Alison Benz led the way with a 1 for 2 day at the plate, including a triple, while Emily Benz went 1 for 3.

The latter Benz took the loss in the circle for the Rabbits, going six innings while allowing nine runs on 10 hits while striking out three.

Now facing elimination, Wabasso squared off against Lac qui Parle Valley, who had defeated Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 6-5 in eight innings. The resilient Rabbits broke out the bats against the Eagles, belting out 15 hits en route to a 14-6 victory.

Wabasso coach Tiffany Eichten said she was pleased with her team’s ability to bounce back from the first game loss and set the tone early in the second game.

“The big thing was in the first game we kind of let them get to us. We had that one bad inning and couldn’t pick it up from there,” coach Eichten said. “The next game we decided to set the tone and not look back and they did a good job of putting up runs the whole game.”

The Rabbits jumped out of the gate in the first inning, with Alison Benz drawing a leadoff walk and Emily Benz getting a single to get through the infield to put runners on base for Cora Eichten, who used a sacrifice fly to bring in the game’s first run. A wild pitch then made it 2-0 in favor of Wabasso.

After a scoreless bottom of the first by LQPV, Wabasso added two more runs in the top of the second. Alexi Irlbeck drew a leadoff walk before Megan Rothmeier brought her around on an RBI triple. Emily Benz then got an RBI single to make it 4-0.

The Eagles would get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third thanks to an RBI single, but Wabasso responded with a run of its own in the top of the fourth to maintain a four-run lead. After a couple of outs to start the frame, Alison Benz recorded a single and then stole second base before Emily Benz slapped an RBI single.

An inning later, the Rabbits got a boost on the offensive end, scoring five runs to break the game open and take a 10-1 advantage. After a leadoff walk by Madalyn Heiling and a single by Alyssa Greenlee, Jenna Frank beat out an infield single to load the bases with no outs. Irlbeck was then hit by a pitch to score a run before another run scored on a dropped third strike to the next batter. Alison Benz then got an RBI single to make its way out of the infield and then took second on the throw home before Emily Benz stepped up and smacked a two-run single to bring it to the nine-run lead for the Rabbits.

The Eagles got another run in the bottom of the sixth, but Wabasso countered with four more runs in the top of the seventh to make it 14-2. After a pair of singles by Alison and Emily Benz, a walk was drawn to load the bases. Heiling came up to bat and unloaded on a pitch to deep left center, and legged out a bases-clearing double. Greenlee then brought in her teammate on an RBI single for the Rabbits’ final run.

The Eagles wouldn’t go away, however, as they loaded the bases and cleared them all in one swing thanks to a grand slam, but that would be all LQPV would get.

Emily Benz led the way for the Rabbits with a 5 for 5 day at the plate with four RBIs while Alison Benz went 3 for 4 and Heiling had a pair of hits and three RBIs.

The junior Benz also earned the victory in the circle, going seven innings while allowing six runs on 10 hits while striking out six.

Coach Eichten said she was happy with her pitcher’s performance in the two games, and added that her advantage was getting ahead in the count.

“Emily did a really good job of getting ahead in the count and mixing up her pitches,” coach Eichten said. “She pitched two great ballgames for us.”

Alison Benz said their key on the offensive end was playing with a high level of confidence throughout the afternoon.

“Everybody was on top of things and were more confident,” she said. “We got our bunts down and hustled a lot more. Our confidence was key.”

Wabasso (15-6) will face BOLD on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Cottonwood.

Coach Eichten said their biggest takeaway will be to keep playing their style of softball as they look to advance in the postseason.

“I think it’s the same thing as before; just play our game and keep the pressure on the whole time,” coach Eichten said. “We also need to swing at good pitches and that will give us way better opportunities.”

Game 1

KMS 9, Wabasso 1

Wabasso 000 001 0 — 1 3 5

KMS 106 101 0 — 9 10 0

HITTING: Wabasso (A. Benz 1-2; E. Benz 1-3).

PITCHING (IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO): Wabasso (E. Benz 6-10-9-7-1-3).

Game 2

Wabasso 14, LQPV 6

Wabasso 220 150 4 — 14 15 0

LQPV 001 001 4 — 6 10 0

HITTING: Wabasso (E. Benz 5-5, 4 RBI; A. Benz 3-4; Heiling 2 H, 3 RBI).

PITCHING (IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO): Wabasso (E. Benz 7.0-10-6-6-0-6).

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