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MARSHFIELD – Wausau Newman Catholic continued its unlikely run in the WIAA softball playoffs, earning a come-from-behind 5-3 win over Marshfield Columbus Catholic in a Division 5 regional final Thursday at the Marshfield Fairgrounds.
Newman Catholic fell behind 3-0 before scoring five times in its final two at-bats to secure the win.
The No. 8 seeded Cardinals (5-8), who upset No. 1 seed Almond-Bancroft in the regional semifinals, will play a D-5 sectional semifinal at No. 3 seed Tri-County (17-3) on Tuesday. Tri-County slipped past No. 2 seed Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 7-6 on Thursday.
Maren Seefluth hit a solo home run and Emily Nemitz beat out a ground ball for an RBI single to give the Dons a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
Columbus tacked on another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Seefluth, but the Dons were stymied from there and the Cardinals mounted a comeback.
Angela Rougeot-Donath singled to score Mackenzie Krach and Lauren Nowinsky had an RBI single in a two-run sixth to get Newman Catholic to within a run.
An error, two singles and a hit batter led to a big inning for Newman in the top of the seventh as it pulled ahead.
Rouget had a single to score Julia Seidel, and Samuels came around to score on an errant throw to put the Cardinals ahead. Krach then scored on a sacrifice fly by Grace Sukanen to give Newman a 5-3 lead.
Columbus had only one hit – a single by Nemitz in the seventh – over the final three innings as Samuels settled in. She earned the win, striking out two and walking just one.
Addison Baierl suffered the loss for the Dons (6-12). She finished with six strikeouts.
Cardinals 5, Dons 3
Wausau Newman Catholic 000 002 3 – 5 6 4
Marshfield Columbus Catholic 002 100 0 – 3 8 1
WP: Stevie Samuels. LP: Addison Baierl.
SO: Samuels 2; Ad. Baierl 6. BB: Samuels 1; Ad. Baierl 4.
Top hitters: WNC, Mackenzie Krach 2×3, 2 runs; Angela Rougeot-Donath 2×3, 3 RBIs. CC, Maren Seefluth 2×4, HR, 2 RBIs; Brooke Neider 2×3; Emily Nemitz 2×3, RBI.
Records: Wausau Newman Catholic 5-8; Marshfield Columbus Catholic 6-12.