(Pleasantville, IA) — Pleasantville loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the 7th inning but Riley Miller pitched out of the jam and Exira EHK Audubon moved to the Regional Semifinals winning 4-1 on Wednesday night in Class 2A, Region 1.
For the first time this season, everybody in the Spartan line up got a hit and they built a 4-0 lead but Miller started to tire a bit in the later innings but somehow summoned enough to get her team out of big pickle in the 7th.
Trojans starter Lainey Kennedy retired the first 6 batters she faced but Brylie Petersen singled to lead off the 3rd — after a bunt and a strike out, Taryn Petersen singled in Brylie and Anna Larsen followed with another RBI single to make it 2-0 Spartans.
Exira left the bases loaded in the 4th but in the 5th they added to their lead and again it came with two outs — Abby Wanser doubled and then Lucy Stanerson drilled a pitch down the left field line for another double to score Wanser. Zoey Rasmussen followed with a RBI single to right to make it 4-0.
Miller, meanwhile, only allowed two bunt singles through the first 4 innings. In the bottom of the 5th, she gave up a leadoff walk to Kennedy, Kyleigh McConnell bunted her to 2nd and Faith Nelson blooped in a single but Miller got two straight pop outs to end the inning. In the 6th, Harper McGraw lined the first pitch to right for a single. Miller got a pop out and a ground out but Pleasantville got a little 2 out lightning of their own with a RBI double from Clara Metcalf to put the Trojans on the board. Miller, however, struck out Kennedy to end the inning with a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th, McConnell led off with an infield single, Nelson trickled one to left for another hit and Ella Clark at the top of the line up hit a blooper just over the head of 2nd baseman Alissa Testroet. The bases were loaded with nobody out. Miller then did her impersonation of Harry Houdini — Kally Wysong popped out, Miller struck out McGraw and Taylor Perkins flew out to right field to end the game.
Miller went the distance 7 IP and allowed just 1 earned run on 8 hits, walked two and struck out 11.
For Pleasantville: Ella Clark was 2-4. Faith Nelson was 3-3. Lainey Kennedy pitched 7 innings and allowed four runs all earned on 11 hits, walked none and struck out one.
For Exira EHK Audubon: Taryn Petersen was 2-4 with a triple, 1 run, 1 RBI and a stolen base. Zoey Rasmussen was 2-3 with a RBI.
Pleasantville ended the season 18-9 while Exira EHK Audubon is now 15-11 and will host Earlham in the regional semifinals on Friday night. The Cardinals upset 20 win Grand View Christian 7-1.
Line Score
Exira EHK Audubon (15-11) — 4 runs, 11 hits, 0 errors, 7 LOB
Pleasantville (18-8) — 1 run, 8 hits, 1 error, 8 LOB
W: Miller (12-8)
L: Kennedy (N/A)
Time: 1:39
