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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Pinch-runner Katelyn Sternweis scored on an error with the game’s only run as the Marshfield softball team escaped with a 1-0 win over Eau Claire North in a WIAA Division 1 regional final Thursday at Madison Field.
With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Brooklyn Bohman hit a fly ball that got caught up in the wind and blown back into the infield. The infield fly rule was called, but the ball fell off the glove of the charging North right fielder and Sternweis scampered home.
“I knew I had to get the ball in the play and get the runner in with the bases loaded,” Bohman said. “My goal going up there was just get the ball in play.”
That was all the offense either team could muster as North’s Parker and Marshfield’s Courtney Donahue were on point.
Madisyn Parker struck out 12 and walked three, giving up just four hits, while Donahue tossed seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts, and only one walk and two hits allowed, both singles by Morgan Presler.
Marshfield (19-5), the No. 2 seed in the Division 1 Sectional 1 bracket, will host No. 3 Stevens Point (23-5) in a sectional semifinal Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Madison Field. The game will be broadcast live at zaleskisports.com. Marshfield swept Stevens Point in its two Wisconsin Valley Conference matchups this season.
“What a heck of a ballgame,” Marshfield coach Becky Linzmeier said. “A pitchers’ duel, defense was outstanding. We laid down some bunts when we needed to, played some small ball when we needed to and put a little pressure on their defense. It’s great to win this and move on, and I’m really proud of our team.”
Tigers 1, Huskies 0
Eau Claire North 000 000 0 – 0 2 1
Marshfield 000 010 x – 1 4 2
WP: Courtney Donahue. LP: Madisyn Parker.
SO: Parker 12; Donahue 8. BB: Parker 3; Donahue 1.
Top hitters: ECN, Morgan Presler 2×3. M, Brooklyn Bohman 1×3; Shylah Brogan 1×3; Madison Voss 1×3; Ashlyn Barwick 1×2.
Records: Eau Claire North 14-7; Marshfield 19-5.