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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
EAU CLAIRE – The Marshfield softball team’s WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal at Eau Claire North on Wednesday was a microcosm of the season.
The Tigers scored two runs in the top of the first inning but couldn’t hold on as they left seven runners on base and fell to North 3-2 in eight innings, unable to get anything across over the final seven innings.
Eau Claire North (12-12) moves on to a Division 1 regional final at Chippewa Falls (20-4) on Friday. Marshfield ends its season with a 9-15 record after losing its final six games and going 3-10 in May. Six of Marshfield’s losses this season were by one run.
The first three batters reached in the top of the first for the Tigers. Megan Donahue had a two-run single to score Emily Draeger and Megan Nordbeck, who both singled, to give Marshfield an early 2-0 lead.
The Tigers ended up loading the bases, but couldn’t get another runner in.
“It was a tough game to lose,” Marshfield coach Mike Voss said. “Megan did a good job on the mound and our defense made some good plays behind her to get out some jams. Unfortunately we could not get much more going on offense after that.”
Alyssa Tisdale and Bailey Richardson drove in runs with singles in the fourth to tie the game for North.
Marshfield’s best scoring chance came in the seventh when Draeger and Nordbeck each singled with two outs, but Donahue flew out to end the inning.
The Huskies won it in the bottom of the eighth when Abby Long doubled and moved to third on a single by Lexie Revie. After Long was tagged out at third base on a ground ball for the first out, Anna Holtz delivered a single to score the winning run.
Donahue struck out three and walked two in suffering the loss.
Long was the winning pitcher, striking out 15 Tigers.
Huskies 3, Tigers 2 (8 inn.)
Marshfield 200 000 00 – 2 8 1
Eau Claire North 000 200 01 – 3 9 2
WP: Abby Long. LP: Megan Donahue.
SO: Donahue 3; Long 15. BB: Donahue 2; Long 1.
Top hitters: M, Emily Draeger 2×4, run; Morgan Nordbeck 2×4, run; Donahue 3×4, 2 RBIs. ECN, Brooke Thompson 2×4; Long 2×4, 2B.
Records: Marshfield 9-15; Eau Claire North 12-12.