(Oakland, IA) — It was a classic softball tug of war between two great teams but Peyton Schafer hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 7th inning as Class 2A #10 Riverside beat Class 1A #4 Exira EHK/Audubon 12-8 on Tuesday night.
Both teams scored two runs in the first inning — the Spartans got a 2 out 2 run double from Brylie Petersen while the Bulldogs got a RBI double from Madison Kelley and Lilli Reed walked with the bases loaded and it was tied at 2-2.
Exira EHK/Audubon starter Riley Miller would end up walking 11 batters — she had walked 9 all season coming into the game. She walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the 2nd but got a pop out and strikeout to get out of the inning.
The Spartans then retook the lead in the top of the 3rd — Riverside starter Peyton Schafer had her own control problems, walking the bases loaded and Lucy Stanerson got a base hit up the middle for a 2 run single to make it 4-2.
Riverside did not take long to come back — Schafer reached on an error, Lilli Reed walked. Miller would strike out the next two hitters but Sophia Fenner reached on a ground ball error that scored two runs. Adaline Martens then smacked a RBI double to left to score Fenner and the Bulldogs had a 5-4 lead.
In the top of the 4th, Skyla Rasmussen got a leadoff single, Jordan Mulford laid down a bunt and was thrown out — Rasmussen broke for third and the throw got away so she trotted home to tie the game at 5-5. After Sydney Somers and Madison Kelley teamed up for a great defensive play to rob Taryn Petersen of a hit, Anna Larsen reached on an error, stole 2nd base and scored on a RBI single by Riley Miller to make it 6-5 Exira.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Bulldogs retook the lead — Reed and Braelyn Schnack got back to back leadoff singles and scored on Fenner’s single up the middle to make it 7-6 Riverside.
Taryn Petersen tied it at 7-7 with one swing — a solo HR with 2 outs in the top of the 6th.
Riverside pulled the rope back their way in the bottom of the 6th — Kayden Schnack got a leadoff walk, stole 2nd, stole 3rd and scored on a RBI fielders choice from Braelyn Schnack and the Bulldogs led 8-7.
The Spartans got a one out double from Lucy Stanerson in the top of the 7th and with two outs, Skyla Rasmussen hit a grounder that was bobbled for an error and Stanerson tied the game at 8-8.
Miller ran into trouble in the bottom of the 7th when she walked Martens and Kelley singled. Miller would strike out Kayden Schnack and Somers was walked intentionally to load the bases. Schafer then took the pitch to straight away center field for a game ending home run and the Bulldogs came away with a season split with the Spartans.
Riverside
Peyton Schafer 1-3, HR (#4), 4 RBI, 2 intentional walks; 7 IP, 8 runs, 5 ER, 12 hits, 5 walks, 5 K
Lilli Reed 2-2, 2 runs, RBI, 2 walks
Adaline Martens 1-2, double, RBI, 2 SB, 2 runs
Sophia Fenner 1-3, 2 walks, 2 runs, 2 RBI
Exira EHK/Audubon
Riley Miller 6 1/3 IP, 12 runs, 8 ER, 8 hits, 11 walks, 8 K; 3-3, RBI
Taryn Petersen 2-3, HR (#2), 2 runs, 2 SB
Brylie Petersen 2-3, double, 2 RBI
Lucy Stanerson 2-3, double, 2 RBI, run
Line Score
Exira EHK/Audubon (10-3, 9-3) 8 runs, 12 hits, 3 errors, 7 LOB
Riverside (10-4, 9-2) 12 runs, 8 hits, 3 errors, 11 LOB
W: Schafer
L: Miller
Time: 1:59
