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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
RHINELANDER – The Marshfield softball team kicked off its 2023 season on Thursday and used an eight-run seventh inning to bust open a tie game and defeat Rice Lake 11-4 in a Bracket A quarterfinal at the Rhinelander Hodag Invitational at the Hodag Dome.
Marshfield moves on to a semifinal matchup with Lakeland at 10:15 a.m. Friday. The loser plays for third place at noon, while the winner plays for the bracket title at 1:45 p.m.
Madison Kraus had an RBI single in the first inning, and two runs scored on a Rice Lake error in the top of the third to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Rice Lake rallied to tie the game with two runs in the bottom of the third and another in the fifth, before Marshfield put together a huge inning to break it open in the top of the seventh.
Lydia Garvin had an RBI triple and scored on a Kraus single to put the Tigers in front. An error and a fielder’s choice led to two more runs, before Delaney Varsho smacked a two-run double. Varsho and Ashlyn Barwick both scored on a single by Garvin to put Marshfield up 11-3.
Rice Lake managed one run in the bottom of the seventh before Marshfield pitcher Katelyn Sternweis shut the door to complete the victory. She finished with nine strikeouts and seven walks.
Tigers 11, Warriors 4
Marshfield 102 000 8 – 11 10 2
Rice Lake 002 010 1 – 4 5 3
WP: Katelyn Sternweis. LP: Kunz.
SO: Sternweis 9; Kunz 8. BB: Sternweis 7; Kunz 7.
Top hitters: M, Shylah Brogan 1×4, 2 runs; Lydia Garvin 3×4, 3B, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Madison Kraus 2×4, 2 RBI; Delaney Varsho 2B, 2 RBI. RL, Kalina 2×4, RBI; Anderson 2B, RBI.
Records: Marshfield 1-0; Rice Lake 0-1.