BELMONT - Belmont senior Bri Ernst blooped a game-winning RBI single over the shortstop in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Braves to a 4-3 win over the Juda-Albany softball team on Thursday.
"It was kind of a heartbreaker," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "It was just one we couldn't get to."
Juda-Albany, ranked second in the Division 4 Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association state poll, drops to 11-2 overall and 8-1 in the Six Rivers East. Belmont (13-1, 8-0 Six Rivers West), ranked third in Division 5, stayed unbeaten in conference.
The Braves scored three unearned runs off Juda-Albany junior pitcher Nicki Becker in the first inning. The Panthers committed two of their three errors in the first.
The Panthers also left 11 runners on base in the game.
"We just weren't able to come up with the clutch hit," Davis said.
Juda-Albany battled back from the three-run deficit. Senior Alexis Goecks and Chelsea Burkhalter both singled in the third. Senior Sara Jordan followed with a single to load the bases. Senior Sayde McDermott then delivered a two-run, two-out single to cut the Braves' lead to 3-2.
The Panthers tied the game in the fourth. Becker led off with a triple. Junior Maddie Roth then came through with an RBI single to tie the game at 3.
Becker pitched 10 innings and gave up two earned runs. She struck out 11 and walked none.
"Nicki threw a great game for us," Davis said. "Sometimes in a close game it comes down to a looper like that."
Mineral Point 13, Darlington 2
DARLINGTON - Mineral Point's Morgan James went 3-for-5 to lead the Pointers past the rival Redbirds in a Southwest Wisconsin Activities League game.
Darlington led 2-1 after four innings. The Pointers scored five runs in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. Mineral Point, which pounded out 13 hits, put the game away with a six-run seventh.
Darlington senior Reagan Roelli had a triple for the Redbirds. The Pointers limited the Redbirds to three hits. Darlington committed seven errors.
Darlington senior Tayah Paulson pitched a complete game and gave up five earned runs on 13 hits. She struck out one and walked two.
Brodhead 12, Big Foot 2 (6)
WALWORTH - Brodhead senior Michelle Loeffelholz went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Cardinals over Walworth Big Foot.
Brodhead (3-7, 3-6 Rock Valley South) pounded out 12 hits and scored five runs in the third inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
Brodhead senior Ali Rosheisen went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Junior McKayla Hayes went 2-for-4 with four RBI and junior Shelby Moyer was 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Junior Azzy Steiner pitched a complete game in six innings to get the win. She gave up one earned run on six hits, struck out six and walked two.
"It was kind of a heartbreaker," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "It was just one we couldn't get to."
Juda-Albany, ranked second in the Division 4 Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association state poll, drops to 11-2 overall and 8-1 in the Six Rivers East. Belmont (13-1, 8-0 Six Rivers West), ranked third in Division 5, stayed unbeaten in conference.
The Braves scored three unearned runs off Juda-Albany junior pitcher Nicki Becker in the first inning. The Panthers committed two of their three errors in the first.
The Panthers also left 11 runners on base in the game.
"We just weren't able to come up with the clutch hit," Davis said.
Juda-Albany battled back from the three-run deficit. Senior Alexis Goecks and Chelsea Burkhalter both singled in the third. Senior Sara Jordan followed with a single to load the bases. Senior Sayde McDermott then delivered a two-run, two-out single to cut the Braves' lead to 3-2.
The Panthers tied the game in the fourth. Becker led off with a triple. Junior Maddie Roth then came through with an RBI single to tie the game at 3.
Becker pitched 10 innings and gave up two earned runs. She struck out 11 and walked none.
"Nicki threw a great game for us," Davis said. "Sometimes in a close game it comes down to a looper like that."
Mineral Point 13, Darlington 2
DARLINGTON - Mineral Point's Morgan James went 3-for-5 to lead the Pointers past the rival Redbirds in a Southwest Wisconsin Activities League game.
Darlington led 2-1 after four innings. The Pointers scored five runs in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. Mineral Point, which pounded out 13 hits, put the game away with a six-run seventh.
Darlington senior Reagan Roelli had a triple for the Redbirds. The Pointers limited the Redbirds to three hits. Darlington committed seven errors.
Darlington senior Tayah Paulson pitched a complete game and gave up five earned runs on 13 hits. She struck out one and walked two.
Brodhead 12, Big Foot 2 (6)
WALWORTH - Brodhead senior Michelle Loeffelholz went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Cardinals over Walworth Big Foot.
Brodhead (3-7, 3-6 Rock Valley South) pounded out 12 hits and scored five runs in the third inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
Brodhead senior Ali Rosheisen went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Junior McKayla Hayes went 2-for-4 with four RBI and junior Shelby Moyer was 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Junior Azzy Steiner pitched a complete game in six innings to get the win. She gave up one earned run on six hits, struck out six and walked two.
