(Fort Dodge, IA) — Rachel Eglseder outdueled Riley Miller as #8 seed Edgewood Colesburg shocked top seeded Exira EHK Audubon 6-3 in the first game of the Class 1A State Softball Tournament.
The only player to hit safely was Miller who went 3-3 and drove in all of the Spartans runs as Eglseder struck out 15 batters.
Exira EHK Audubon scored first in the bottom of the first when Taryn Petersen was hit by a pitch and stole 2nd base. On an 0-2 pitch, Miller drove into center field for a RBI single and a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the 2nd, Miller got the first two outs but Addi Schmelzer hit one over the wall in left for her first home run of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
Ed Co took the lead in the top of the 4th as Eglseder singled with one out. McKenna Hoefer hit a fly ball to center that Anna Larsen dropped but still made a force play at 2nd base. Miller then lost some of her control walking the next two hitters and Chloe Everett made her pay with a looper to right for a base hit scoring two runs and a 3-1 Vikings lead.
The Spartans came back in the bottom of the 5th when Zoey Rasmussen and Brenna Nelson got back to back leadoff walks. After Eglseder got a strike out, Petersen was walked intentionally to load the bases. Eglseder got a strike out for out number two but Miller dumped one into left center for a two run double to tie the game at 3-3.
In the top of the 6th,, McKenna Hoefer singled to lead off. Miller would strike out Lauren Kirby but Schmelzer came up and powered one to right center that went over the wall for a 2 run HR to put Ed Co up 5-3. They added an insurance run in the top of the 6th on a double from Faith Dugan and a RBI hit from Eglseder.
The senior starter for the Vikings would retire the final 7 batters she faced including striking out the side in the 6th.
Exira EHK Audubon will have to turn things around as they play in an elimination game on Tuesday morning at 10:30 am; if they win will play again on Tuesday at 7:30 pm; coverage on KSOM.
Line Score
Edgewood Colesburg (28-10) 6 Runs, 10 Hits, 0 Errors, 5 LOB
Exira EHK Audubon (23-5) 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error, 4 LOB
W: Eglseder
L: Miller
Time: 1:49
