MarshfieldAreaSports.com
RHINELANDER – With two games remaining in the Wisconsin Valley Conference season, the Marshfield softball team still has a very good chance at second place in the conference and a top seed in the WIAA Division 1 playoffs.
The Tigers pounded out 16 hits and took advantage of six Rhinelander errors to beat the Hodags 13-8 in a wild WVC game Tuesday.
The win improves Marshfield’s record to 12-8 overall and 6-4 in the conference. Rhinelander falls to 5-6, 1-6 in the Valley.
Marshfield led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth when the Hodags’ bats came alive.
The lead changed hands three times over the next two innings as each team put up a combined seven runs.
Clinging to a 9-8 lead, Marshfield put four more on the board in the top of the seventh – all coming with two outs. Lindsey Duerr cracked a two-run home run and Raelyn Wingert singled to knock in Taylor Varsho and give the Tigers a cushion.
Marshfield pitcher Rhiannon Baierl (five strikeouts, two walks) slammed the door in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win.
“It was one of those games that started out pretty slow and then the fourth inning came around and it seemed like both teams made good contact with the ball,” Marshfield coach Mike Voss said.
Andie Varsho was 4-for-4 with four runs scored, Taylor Varsho finished 2-for-5 with a double and a pair of runs scored, and Duerr and Hayley Umhoefer each finished with two hits for the Tigers, who host Wausau East on Thursday and wrap-up their WVC schedule on May 27 at home against Wisconsin Rapdis.
“It wasn’t the prettiest game, but it is a win we’ll take,” Voss said. “Hopefully it’s something that we can carry over into Thursday’s game against Wausau East.”
Tigers 13, Hodags 8
Marshfield 100 143 4 – 13 16 3
Rhinelander 010 430 0 – 8 16 6
WP: Baierl. LP: Ashley Olson.
SO: Baierl 5; Olson 1. BB: Baierl 2; Olson 2.
Top hitters: M, Andie Varsho 4-for-4, 4 runs; Lindsey Duerr 2-for-4, 2-run HR, 3 RBIs; Taylor Varsho 2-for-5, 2B, 2 runs; Hayley Umhoefer 2-for-3; Raelyn Wingert 2 runs; Becky Boehning 2 runs. R, Lindsay Schilleman 4-for-5; Katie Rinka 4-for-4.
Records: Marshfield 12-8, 6-4 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Rhinelander 5-7, 1-6 WVC.
