(Audubon) Riley Miller threw a no-hitter, and Taryn Petersen drove home Anna Larsen for the winning run to lead Audubon past MVAOCOU 1-0 in a Class 2A Regional Final at Audubon on Monday night, landing the Wheelers a spot in the State Softball Tournament.
Audubon pitcher Riley Miller pitched a gem. The freshman tossed a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and just one baserunner. Miller is now 13-2 on the season with 219 strikeouts and 26 walks in 130 innings. The Wheelers scored one run on eight hits and played outstanding defense with just one error.
Rams pitcher Mya Goslar struck out one, walked one, and was backed by solid defense, particularly shortstop Makynlee Yockey, who had her hand in seven plays.
Miller got a terrific start, striking out Ram’s lead-off batter, Reagan Suentjens, followed by nine consecutive strikeouts. Brylei Clausen reached base on an error in the top of the fifth inning. Still, Miller responded by forcing two pop flies to Addie Hocker and Michelle Brooks, with centerfielder Mattie Nielsen catching a fly ball to end the inning.
The Wheelers had their chances early. Mattie Nielsen hit a single in the bottom of the first inning but was forced out at second on a double play. Goslar retired the home team in order in the second inning, and the Wheelers left two runners stranded in the third. Brooks and Neilsen drilled singles; however, the Rams turned a double play, preventing the Wheelers from scoring.
Audubon threatened again in the bottom of the sixth inning. Alexis Obermeier and Addie Hocker belted back-to-back singles with two outs. However, the inning stalled out on another Yockey put out, this time at third base.
The Rams went down in order in the top of the 7th, and it appeared the game might be heading to extra innings with two outs and a runner at third for the Wheelers. Anna Larsen, the eighth hitter in the Wheelers lineup, blasted a lead-off single, followed by a fly ball to center and a pop-up to short. Meanwhile, Larsen, who made her way to third base, bolted for home when Taryn Petersen stepped up, hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop, and outran the throw to first base for the win.
Audubon heads to the State Tournament with a record of 27-4. MVAOCOU bows out at 20-12.
Video interviews with Taryn Petersen, Anna Larsen, Riley Miller, and Coach Andrea Schwery are posted below.
