This story is sponsored by: Wisconsin Homes of Marshfield
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Strong pitching and key situational hitting was on display all game long as the Marshfield softball team rolled past Wisconsin Rapids 11-1 in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal Monday at Lincoln High School.
Courtney Donahue allowed three hits and only walked one, striking out 13 in a five-inning complete game for the Tigers. Her only blemish was that she hit four batters, but she buckled down, allowing a single unearned run in the fourth inning. By then, the Tigers were already up 7-0 and in control.
“She pitched fantastic,” Marshfield coach Danny Costa said. “When you hit spots, when you can go inside-outside, when you can switch speeds, it’s going to be tough.”
Donahue and Brianna Jakobi had singles to start the game, and courtesy runner Ashlyn Barwick scored on a fielder’s choice to put Marshfield up 1-0 in the first inning.
Loryn Jakobi drilled a two-run homer, Lydia Schafer had a sacrifice bunt to plate Taylor Barwick, and Shylah Brogen knocked in a run with a single in a four-run third inning as the Tigers went up 5-0.
Marshfield added two more in the fourth as Ashtyn Barwick scored on a wild pitch and Madalen Bornbach had a sacrifice fly.
After the first two batters were retired, the Tigers scored four times to put the game away. Brianna Jakobi had an RBI single and Loryn Jakobi knocked in two more to finish with six RBIs.
“This team’s hungry and wants to make a run,” Costa said. “It’s exactly what we have worked on, moving runners, making sure that when we had an opportunity to take runs, we did. I thought three or four runs would win it, and that’s why we worked on bunting, executing on getting runs across.”
Marshfield (14-6) moves on to a regional final Wednesday at No. 1 seed D.C. Everest (15-6). The two teams split a doubleheader on April 28.
Tigers 11, Raiders 1
Marshfield 104 24 – 11 12 0
Wisconsin Rapids 000 10 – 1 3 4
WP: Courtney Donahue. LP: Rhiannon Carroll.
SO: Donahue 13; Carroll (4 inn.) 2, Megan Clary (1 inn.) 0. BB: Donahue 1; Carroll 1, Clary 0.
Top hitters: M, Donahue 2×4; Brianna Jakobi 2×3, 3 runs; Loryn Jakobi 2×4, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 6 RBIs; Taylor Barwick 2×4; Ashlyn Barwick 3 runs.
Records: Marshfield 14-6; Wisconsin Rapids 14-8.