MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Auburndale rallied for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 8-8, but Stratford managed to win it with a run in the top of the 10th inning and beat the Apaches 9-8 in a Marawood Conference South Division softball game Friday.
The game, originally scheduled to be played at Auburndale, was moved to Stratford because of poor field conditions at Auburndale High School.
Stratford clinches a tie for the conference title with the victory, improving to 17-1 overall and a perfect 11-0 in the Marawood South. Despite the good effort, Auburndale remains in last place in the conference, falling to 4-10 overall and 2-10 in the Marawood South.
Stratford led 8-2 after a five-run top of the sixth only to see the Apaches score six times in the bottom of the inning against pitcher Hilary Belter.
The game remained scoreless over the next three innings until the Tigers plated a run in the 10th and Belter slammed the door in the bottom of the inning.
Belter struck out nine and walked five to earn the win. Freshman Nicole Nikolay took the loss in her best outing of the season. She did not strike out a batter, but walked only five in 10 innings. Six of the nine runs allowed were earned.
“This was a great game,” Auburndale coach Dawn Urban said. “We would have loved to come away with the win, but in many ways we did. Pushing a team like Stratford to 10 innings speaks well for my young team.”
Kayleigh Kundinger was 4-for-5 and Kelli Isaacson was 3-for-6 with a double and four RBIs to lead Auburndale’s offense.
Keri Doll was 3-for-6 with a double and two runs scored, and Haley Austin had three doubles for the Tigers.
Auburndale plays at the Royal Rumble tournament at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption on Saturday.
Stratford is at Rib Lake for a nonconference game on Tuesday.
Tigers 9, Apaches 8 (10 innings)
Stratford 000 305 000 1 – 9 11 4
Auburndale 000 026 000 0 – 8 11 5
WP: Hilary Belter. LP: Nicole Nikolay.
SO: Belter 9; Nikolay 0. BB: Belter 5; Nikolay 5.
Top hitters: S, Keri Doll 3-for-6, 2B, 2 runs; Haley Austin 3-for-5, 3 2Bs. A, Kayleigh Kundinger 4-for-5, 2 runs; Kelli Isaacson 3-for-6, 2B, 4 RBIs; Kari Willfahrt 2 runs; Katie Willfahrt 2 RBIs.
Records: Stratford 17-1, 11-0 Marawood South; Auburndale 4-10, 2-10 Marawood South.
