(Oakland, IA) — AC/GC scored the game’s first run but Riverside got 9 unanswered runs and beat the Chargers 9-1 in 5 innings to advance to the Regional Four Semifinals on Wednesday night.
Riverside starter Peyton Schafer struggled a little out of the gate by walking Jerzee Huss to start the game and Kailee Kautzky drilled a RBI double and AC/GC was thinking upset with a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs got a couple of bloop singles in the bottom of the first but could not score against Chargers starter Megan Underwood. Lilli Reed changed that in the bottom of the 2nd hitting one into the jet stream for a solo HR to center to tie the game at 1-1.
Sophia Fenner homered with one out in the 3rd and Adaline Martens doubled and scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.
The Chargers needed to play solid defensively but they committed three errors in the bottom of the 4th that led to 3 runs — with the bases loaded, Martens hit one on the ground and it was thrown away and everybody scored and Riverside led 6-1.
Schafer, meanwhile, settled down and retired 9 in a row before Caydence Boals got an infield single leading off the 4th. Schafer got two ground outs and a strikeout to end it. Tessa Slaybaugh got an infield single leading off the 5th but she was caught stealing and Schafer got two straight strikeouts to end that half inning.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Bulldogs needed three runs to invoke the 8 run rule and they got it. With Sydney Somers at 2nd and 2 outs, Reed drilled a RBI double to make it 7-1. Braelyn Schnack reached on an infield single and Kaycie Perkins walked it off with a 2 run base hit to left center and that was the ball game.
Riverside will play Nodaway Valley in the Regional Semifinals on Friday night — the Wolverines beat West Central Valley 14-6.
Riverside
Lilli Reed 2-2, HR (2), double, 2 RBI, 3 runs
Sophia Fenner 1-3, HR (1), 2 runs
Adaline Martens 2-3, double, run
Kaycie Perkins 1-3, 2 RBI
Peyton Schafer 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 Walk, 6 K
AC/GC
Kailee Kautzky 1-2, double, RBI
Megan Underwood 5 IP 9 R, 6 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Line Score
AC/GC (8-22) 1 Run, 3 Hits, 5 Errors, 2 LOB
Riverside (24-5) 9 Runs, 10 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
W: Schafer (23-4)
L: Underwood (4-11)
Time: 1:12
