Rhinelander tops Marshfield softball in WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal

UWMarshfield713

This story is sponsored by: The University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County

MarshfieldAreaSports.com

RHINELANDER – Rhinelander plated four unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning and that was all it needed, beating Marshfield 4-2 in a WIAA Division 1 softball regional semifinal Tuesday.

Brianna Gilbert scattered eight hits and struck out 13 to earn the win for Rhinelander (21-5). The Hodags move on to a Division 1 regional final at D.C. Everest on Thursday.

Marshfield scored single runs in the third and sixth innings but stranded eight runners in four different innings. The Tigers finish the season with a 9-17 record.

Miranda Baierl struck out two and did not walk a batter, giving up only three hits after the first inning.

A one-out error led to the four-run rally in the first inning by the Hodags. Kylie Hunter had a two-run double and Riley Aschenbrenner cracked a two-run home run with two outs in the inning.

“We played a good defensive game, but that one error led to the four unearned runs,” Marshfield coach Mike Voss said. “We just couldn’t come up with the one bit hit to push another run across.”

Marshfield lost nine of its last 10 games, but after a 1-22 record in 2013, the Tigers were vastly improved.

“We are making good strides, especially compared to last year,” Voss said. “Our pitchers were more consistent. Miranda made a big difference and the defense behind them was much better. We lose five seniors who saw significant playing time and we will have to continue to improve on our defense and figure out what we need to do to get better at hitting in certain situations to score more runs.”

Hodags 4, Tigers 2
Marshfield 001 001 0 – 2 8 1
Rhinelander 400 000 x – 4 6 0
WP:
Brianna Gilbert. LP: Miranda Baierl.
SO: Baierl 2; Gilbert 13. BB: Baierl 0; Gilbert 3.
Top hitters: M, Baierl 2B; Katie Treankler 2B; Kayla Kluge 2×3; Lexi Dupee RBI. R, Riley Aschenbrenner 2-run HR; Kylie Hunter 2-run 2B.
Records: Marshfield 9-17; Rhinelander 21-5.