Photo by Jake McNeill: Wabasso third baseman Macy Rohlik (right) jumps up to hug first baseman Cassie Bliss after Bliss made the game-sealing pick at first base in the Rabbits' Section 3A Softball quarterfinal win over Lac qui Parle Valley, Saturday at the Marshall Softball Complex.

This story will be updated with additional photos

MARSHALL — Despite a slow start to the game, the Wabasso softball team’s pitching and bats prevailed in their Section 3A quarterfinal matchup against No. 2S Lac qui Parle Valley on Saturday. The Rabbits trailed 3-0 after the top of the second, but they responded with 10 unanswered runs to claim a 10-3 win and return to the section semifinals.

“We try not to let the defense affect the offense, so we just try to keep picking ourselves up, pick each other up and keep pushing, never give up,” Wabasso outfielder Camryn Irlbeck said.

Tied at three runs apiece, the Rabbits stormed ahead in the bottom of the fourth. Macy Rohlik hit a leadoff single, stole second, advanced to third on an Audrey Johnson sacrifice bunt and scored the go-ahead run on a Delaina Eis single. Aylah Jenniges then singled in Eis and Jenniges scored on an error when Kayleigha Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice, bringing the score to 6-3.

Eis and Jenniges led the Rabbits at the plate on the day, each going 4 for 4. Jenniges also contributed a double and two RBIs, and Camryn Irlbeck chipped in with three singles and an RBI.

“I was just trying to look for my pitch, the ones that I’m best at and can drive the best, and I did that at the plate so it was good,” Eis said. “It feels great to be able to contribute to this team in some way because I know this team is great and we have a lot of great things going for us.”

LQPV scored the game’s first run when Caleigh Conn doubled, stole third, and went home on an error on the throw. The Eagles added to their lead an inning later with a two-run homer by Karcyn Wittnebel with two outs, but that was the last time the Eagles crossed the plate on the day.

Jenniges put together another strong day at pitcher for Wabasso, striking out eight batters over seven innings. She allowed two earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks, but limited LQPV to two hits over the final five frames.

The Rabbits first got on the scoreboard in the second when Irlbeck hit a leadoff single and scored on a Cassie Bliss sacrifice fly. An inning later, an Eis single and a Jenniges double put two runners on, and a Kayleigha Johnson ground out and an Irlbeck single each pushed across a run to tie the game.

“I just get super hyped for my team and I do it for my team. I just love being there for my team,” Irlbeck said on her thoughts after hitting the game-tying single.

Wabasso outhit LQPV 14-5 on the day, and drew three walks to LQPV’s two.

Eis led off the sixth with a single and scored on a Jenniges single to spark a four-run rally for the Rabbits. A walk to Kayleigha Johnson and an Irlbeck single loaded the bases, and after a strikeout put one away, Bliss founded into a fielder’s choice to plate another run.

With two outs, Irlbeck scored on a passed ball and Bliss scored when Macy Rohlik reached base on an error to bring the score to 10-3.

“I think just remembering that we’re a good team, we can make good plays, we can hit the ball [was key to coming back],” Eis said. “We have all this great stuff that we can do, so we just try and use it.”

The Eagles put two runners on to start the seventh, courtesy of an error and a walk, but Jenniges retired each of the next three batters she faced to close out the win.

Wabasso improves to 19-5 with the win and now aims to return to the section championship for the fourth consecutive season when it takes on the North’s top-seeded Yellow Medicine East on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Wabasso defeated YME 5-3 in last year’s quarterfinals, though the Rabbits and Sting have not met this season.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time, just keep pushing along, and our goal is to not lose so we’re going to keep going,” Irlbeck said.

BOX SCORE

BATTING

M. Rohlik: 2-5 (2B), 2 SB, R, SO; D. Eis: 4-4, RBI, 2 R; A. Jenniges: 4-4 (2B), 2 RBI, 2 R, SB; K. Johnson: 0-3, BB, RBI, SO; C. Irlbeck: 3-4, RBI, 2 R; S. Carlson: 0-2, BB, SB, SO; C. Bliss: 0-4, RBI, R; P. Jenniges: 1-3, BB.

PITCHING

A. Jenniges: W, 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO.