(Underwood, IA) — Defense can go a long way and Mary Stephens flashed the leather on Monday night leading Underwood past AHSTW 5-3 in the first round of the Class 2A Softball playoffs.
On the third pitch of the game, AHSTW’s Loralei Wahling hit a ball that rolled right between Stephens legs for an error but the Senior did not make another mistake the rest of the night. The Lady Vikes had multiple hard hit balls go her way and she made play after play after play. In the top of the 5th inning, Wahling was on first with one out and Halle Goodman hit a shot that looked like it was a sure hit up the middle. Stephens dove and field the ball, while on her stomach she flipped the ball up to 2nd base and Brooklyn Drake caught it, turned and threw to first getting Goodman by a quarter of a step for one of the most spectacular double plays of the season.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third when Drake got a leadoff single for just her 7th hit of the season. She stole second, Stephens walked and then Eagles starting pitcher Alissa Fischer doubled them both in for the games first runs. Isabella Buckholdt followed with a sacrifice to move Fisher to third and Kayley Ambrose brought her home for a RBI fielders choice to make it 3-0 Underwood.
After Stephens great double play in the 5th, Sienna Christian led off the 6th with a double and Clara Pace followed with a RBI double and she later scored on a sac fly by Reese Knop to cut the lead to 3-2.
Underwood got those runs back in the bottom of the 6th when the Lady Vikes starter Christian lost her control. With two on and 1 out, Christian gave up two straight walks to the 8 and 9 hitters Adrian Trede and Drake to score one. After Stephens popped out, Christian walked Fischer with the bases loaded to make it 5-2 Underwood.
In the top of the 7th, Charlotte Pattee roped a double down the right field line to lead off the inning. After a ground out by Natalee Stokes, Wahling brought home Pattee to cut the lead to two but Goodman ground out to end the game.
Stephens only went 0-2 at the plate but walked twice and had a run but made 7 outs in the field including her double play to end the 5th inning and kept the Lady Vikes off the base paths.
For AHSTW, Sienna Christian went 5 2/3 innings, allowed 5 runs, 3 earned on just 3 hits, walked 6 and struck out 7. Clara Pace went 2-3 with a double, RBI and run.
For Underwood, Alissa Fischer went 7 innings, allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits, walked just one and struck out 3 and at the plate went 1-3 with a double, run and 3 RBI.
AHSTW finishes their season at 5-16 while Underwood is now 9-21 and will visit Griswold-CAM on Wednesday, coverage on KS 95.
Line Score
AHSTW (5-16) — 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 5 LOB
Underwood (9-21) — 5 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 7 LOB
W: Fischer (6-7)
L: Christian
Time: 1:29
