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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
WAUSAU – Wausau West took advantage of seven walks by Marshfield pitcher Rhiannon Baierl and beat the Tigers 5-4 in a Wisconsin Valley Conference softball game Monday night.
Usually a pitch-to-contact pitcher, Baierl was uncharacteristically bitten by seven walks. Four times she led off an inning by allowing a walk, and three times those runners came around to score for West (2-2 overall and WVC).
“Rhiannon was off a little today,” Marshfield coach Mike Voss said. “I don’t know if it was the cold weather or what, but otherwise we played them pretty even.”
Marshfield fell behind 4-0 after four innings before rallying. Each team scored a run in the fifth and the Tigers scored three times off West pitcher Shanna King in the sixth to pull within a run.
However, West reliever Sammy Laatsch shutdown the Tigers in the seventh.
“The big thing tonight was the defense,” Voss said. “The defense played much better tonight (one error) than we did against Wausau East last Friday (six errors). We gave up five runs, but it was more because of the walks and some timely hits by them. That was a good thing coming off a game like that.”
For the second straight game freshman Katie Treankler started at second base and the regular second baseman, Lindsey Duerr, returned after not playing Friday and started at shortstop. The moves may have helped the Tigers solidify their defense, as well as bolster their offense, Voss said.
Duerr had a hit and two RBIs and Kristin Kniech was 2-for-3 to lead the Tigers’ offense.
Marshfield takes on first-place Stevens Point on the road Tuesday and plays at Merrill on Thursday.
Warriors 5, Tigers 4
Marshfield 000 013 0 – 4 6 1
West 003 110 x – 5 6 3
WP: Shanna King. LP: Rhiannon Baierl.
SO: King 3, Sammy Laatsch 0; Baierl 0. BB: King 2, Laatsch 2; Baierl 7.
Top hitters: M, Kristin Kniech 2×3, Lindsey Duerr 1×3, 2 RBIs.
Records: Marshfield 1-4, 0-4 Wisconsin Valley; Wausau West 2-2 overall and Wisconsin Valley.