(Fort Dodge, IA) — Taryn Petersen scored the game winning run in the bottom of the 7th as Exira EHK Audubon beat Southeast Warren 5-4 and advances to Day Three of the Class 1A State Softball Tournament.
Petersen scored the game winning run after she was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the 7th and the game tied at 4-4. On the first pitch to Anna Larsen, Petersen easily stole second as the pitch went in the dirt. Larsen then got a bunt down the first base line — Warhawks pitcher Allie Geiser fielded it but threw it away and trickled into right. Petersen did not hesitate and rolled around third and scored to win it for the Spartans.
Southeast Warren started the scoring in the first inning when Lexi Clendenen led off the game with a double and scored on Madison Olsasky’s RBI single. Exira EHK Audubon came back in the bottom of the first when Petersen led off with a single and stole 2nd. Larsen then ripped a RBI single to right to tie it 1-1. The Spartans were not done — Larsen was retired on a fielders choice by Riley Miller and after Bryli Petersen grounded out, Lucy Stanerson rolled one up the middle for a 2 out RBI single to make it 2-1.
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Zoey Rasmussen got a hold of Geisler pitch and hammered it over the left field wall for her 2nd Home Run of the season to make it 3-1 Exira EHK Audubon.
In the bottom of the 4th, Abby Wanser reached on an infield single and stole 2nd base. Rasmussen sacrificed her to third and Skyla Rasmussen pinch hit and got a bunt down the first base line. Southeast Warren threw to first base and and got Skyla but Wanser broke for home and scored to make it 4-1.
After allowing two hits in the first inning, Miller did not allow a hit until the top of the 5th. With one out, Belle Ewing pounded one to left that went to the wall and the Spartans committed two errors on throws that allowed Ewing to score on a Little League HR to cut the lead to 4-2.
The Warhawks tied the game in the top of the 4th. Lola Shriver got a leadoff infield single. Miller got a fly out from Kindie Crow but Kiara Wallace hit one to the wall in right for a RBI double scoring Shriver. Miller struck out Glorious Fridley but Harper Wallace got a RBI bloop single to left to make the game 4-4.
The Spartans got a leadoff hit from Stanerson in the bottom of the 6th and after a stolen base and a bunt got her to third, Geisler got two straight strikeouts to get out of the inning.
Miller gave up a 2 out walk in the top of the 7th but got Crow to pop out to end the inning.
That set up Petersen and Larsen’s dramatics in the bottom of the 7th.
Exira EHK Audubon is now 25-5 and will face Edgewood Colesburg on Wednesday at 12:45 — if the Spartans win, they will have to play the Vikings again at 5:15 and the winner of that game will go to the 1A state championship. If Ed-Co wins the 12:45 game, they will go to the state title game. We will have coverage of both games if necessary on KSOM.
Exira EHK Audubon
Taryn Petersen 2-3, double, 2 SB, 2 runs
Riley Miller 7 IP, 4 Runs, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BB, 5 K; 1-3
Zoey Rasmussen 1-2, HR (2)
Anna Larsen 2-4, 2 RBI
Lucy Stanerson 2-3, RBI, SB
Abby Wanser 1-2, run, SB
Line Score
Southeast Warren (23-6) 4 Runs, 7 Hits, 1 Error, 8 LOB
Exira EHK Audubon (25-5) 5 Runs, 9 Hits, 4 Errors, 4 LOB
W: Miller
L: Geisler
Time: 1:40
