(Fort Dodge, IA) — Riverside showed off their offensive prowess in the first round of the State Softball Tournament, pounding out 12 hits on their way to a 14-6 win in 5 innings over Newell Fonda on Tuesday evening.
The Bulldogs gave up an unearned run in the top of the first and just took off from there, scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back.
Adaline Martens led off the bottom of the first with a line drive base hit, Sophia Fenner follwed with a RBI double to center. After a pop out, Peyton Schafer brought home Fenner with a RBI single. Sydney Somers reached on a fielders choice and error, Elly Henderson scored Maebry Rice running for Schafer on a RBI fielders choice and Somers and Henderson both scored when the Newell Fonda catcher tried a pick off it went into the outfield. Riverside led 5-1.
In the 2nd inning, the Mustangs scored a run on a RBI bloop single from Mylee Hinders to make it 5-2 but the Bulldogs got it back in the bottom of the 2nd — Fenner got a 1 out walk, Madison Kelley singled and Schafer dumped a base hit to score Fenner to make it 6-2.
The Mustangs got 2 runs in the top of the third on a RBI grounder and a wild pitch but again the Bulldogs struck back — Newell Fonda starter Anna Mercer gave up back to back leadoff walks to Kayden Schnack and Lilli Reed knocking Mercer from the game. Ellie Sievers came in from center field and got a strike out but Martens hit a liner to left for a RBI single and an error allowed another run to score to make it 8-4 Riverside.
Newell Fonda would not go away — Jaicee Vanderhoff got a leadoff walk and Kinzee Hinders hit a liner down the the line for a RBI triple and she scored on a RBI infield single from Mercer to the lead to two 8-6.
Again Riverside had an answer — with two outs in the bottom of the 4th, Elly Henderson singled, stole 2nd, went to 3rd on a wild pitch. Schnack brought her in with a RBI double and she scored on Reed’s RBI double and it was 10-6.
Schafer kept the Mustangs off the board in the top of the 5th and Riverside kept the pressure on — Martens led off the bottom of the 5th with a double, Fenner walked, so did Kelley, the bases were loaded and the winning run came to the plate. Schafer popped out but with Sydney Somers at the plate, Sievers threw two straight wild pitches to score two runs to make it 12-6. Somers would eventually walk and Henderson singled in Kelley. Schnack walked to reload the bases and Lilli Reed ended the game with a long fly ball to deep center. Somers scored easily and the game was over with the 8 run rule.
Martens led the offense, going 3-4 with a double, RBI and 2 runs scored.
Henderson went 2-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI.
Scafer pitched 5 innings and allowed 6 earned runs on 7 hits, walked 4 and struck out 1 but got plenty of offensive support to get the win.
Only three players in the entire game did not reach base — Kaycie Perkins for Riverside and Ellie Sievers and Jocee Walsh for Newell Fonda who have a combined 17 HR.
Riverside advances to the 1A State Semifinals and will face top seeded Wayne Wednesday night at 7 pm, coverage on KSOM.
Line Score
Newell Fonda (24-12) — 6 runs, 7 hits, 4 errors, 4 LOB
Riverside (25-3) — 14 runs, 12 hits, 1 error, 5 LOB
W: Schafer (24-4)
L: Mercer
Time: 1:40
Box Score, Click HERE
