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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Spencer softball team took unbeaten Tigerton to extra innings, but allowed two runs in the eighth inning and dropped a WIAA Division 4 sectional final to the Tigers 4-2 on Thursday at Robinson Park.
The Rockets, searching for the first-ever trip to the state softball tournament, ends their season with a 22-6 record.
Tigerton (26-0) moves on to the WIAA State Softball Tournament in Madison where it will play a Division 4 semifinal against Thorp (18-8) on June 15 at 9 a.m. De Soto (20-4) will play Oakfield (25-3) in the other semifinal. The Division 4 state championship game is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 16.
Spencer scored a run in the bottom of the first only to see Tigerton rally with single runs in the second and third.
The Tigers’ 2-1 lead held until the sixth when the Rockets tied it.
Tigerton then plated two runs in the top of the eighth against Spencer reliever Tynae Phillips and shutout the Rockets in the bottom of the inning to preserve the win and clinch a spot in its third straight state tournament.
Erin Ortner threw all eight innings for Tigerton, striking out 12, walking four and allowing just four hits.
Dani Johnson had a double and a run scored, Krystal Weier had a triple and scored the other Spencer run, and Courtney Schulz had an RBI on a sacrifice for the Rockets.
“I am very proud of the way our girls battled,” Spencer coach Jason Gorst said. “They had a great season and worked very hard to get this far. We just came up short.”
Tigers 4, Rockets 2
Tigerton 011 000 02 – 4 5 2
Spencer 100 001 00 – 2 4 2
WP: Erin Ortner. LP: Tynae Phillips.
SO: Ortner 12; Heidi Guenther 2, Phillips 4. BB: Ortner 4; Guenther 6, Phillips 4.
Top hitters: T, Emily Wendt 2×4, run; Jessalyn Krueger 1×2, 2 runs. S, Dani Johnson 2B, run; Krystal Weier 3B, run; Courtney Schulz RBI.
Records: Tigerton 26-0; Spencer 22-6.