Spring Grove walk-off win provides softball split with Rushford-Peterson

The Spring Grove girls scored four runs in the final inning for a walk-off 7-6 win over Rushford-Peterson to earn a doubleheader split after a 20-10 run-rule loss to the Trojans in the first game. In the nightcap, the Lions were within one strike of a loss when Siri Konkel singled home the tying and winning runs.

In the Saturday, May13 twin bill at Rushford, Spring Grove was the visiting team (batting first) in the early game and the home team (batting last) in game two. The split left Spring Grove with a 3-9 record and R-P at 2-14.

GAME ONE: R-P 20, SG 10 (5 innings, run rule)

The first six Lion batters all scored while Spring Grove plated the first six runs. There were three subsequent lead changes with the Lions leading 10-7 in the middle of the third inning before the Trojans scored the final 13 runs. R-P scored at least two runs in each inning of a game that ended two innings early due to the 10-run rule.

It was ragged defense as the teams combined for 18 errors (SG 10, R-P 8). There were 30 runs scored, but only three were earned runs. All 20 Rushford-Peterson runs were unearned. Eighth grade Lion pitcher Jada Strinmoen walked four and struck out four.

Trojan batters had two triples and a double while out-hitting the Lions 14 to 7. Eight of nine R-P batters had base hits. Seven of the nine Lion batters had base hits, each with one single. Lydia Solum, Izabel Kaufmann, Addyson McHugh and Katelyn Kraus each drove in a run and scored a run.

GAME TWO: SG 7, R-P 6

Spring Grove never led until the final swing of the bat, trailing 4-3 heading into the final seventh inning. The Trojans added two insurance runs in the top of the inning to extending their lead to 6-3. After tallying three runs through the first six innings, the Grove girls would add four runs in the final frame – all after two outs.

A walk to Clara Myrah was followed by a single from Sydney Holland before two infield outs dampened Lion hopes. But Emerson Ingvalson belted a two-RBI double to make the score 6-5. Ingvalson went to third base on a passed ball. Maggie Lile walked and stole second base, putting the tying and winning runs in scoring position. Konkel had a one-ball, two-strike count before sending a single up the middle to drive in the tying and winning runs.

Rushford-Peterson out-hit the Lions 8 to 6, but the Trojans left nine runners on base, while Spring Grove stranded only one.

R-P scored two runs to start the game, but Grove tied it in the bottom of the first inning with singles from Konkel and Addyson McHugh aided by a Trojan outfield error. R-P again went ahead by two runs in the third inning, but the Lions got one back after a lead-off triple from McHugh. That 4-3 score held until the Trojans made it 6-3 in the top of the seventh.

Lion eighth grader Brinley Middendorf (5 strikeouts, 3 walks) was the winning pitcher. Defense improved for both teams with six total errors (SG 4, R-P 2), one third as many as in the shorter early game.

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GAME ONE: SG 10, R-P 20
SG        604  00 = 10—7–10
R-P       344  27 = 20–14–8
LOB: SG 4, R-P 6
Stolen bases: SG 0, R-P 10
SG 7 hits (7 singles): Izabel Kaufmann 1-2, RBI, run; Sydney Holland 1-2, run; Lydia Solum 1-3, RBI, run: Addyson McHugh 1-3, RBI, run; Katelyn Kraus 1-3, RBI, run; Maggie Lile 1-4, 2 runs; Jada Strinmoen 1-3, 2 runs, 5.0 IP, 20 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
R-P 14 hits (2 triples, 1 double, 11 singles):
Pitching SG: Strinmoen 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 W, 4 K
Pitching R-P: Tesch 5.0 IP, 7 H, 10 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 HB, 4 K
Records: SG 2-9, R-P 2-13
SG LINEUP: p Jada Strinmoen, c Sydney Holland, 1b Lydia Solum, 2b Addyson McHugh, ss Katelyn Kraus, 3b Izabel Kaufmann, lf Emerson Ingvalson, cf Maggie Lile, rf Kenadee Gerard, dp Brinley Middendorf

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GAME TWO: SG 7, R-P 6
R-P       202  000  2 = 6–8–4
SG        200  100  4 = 7–6–2
LOB: SG 1, R-P 9
Stolen bases: SG 4, R-P 6
SG 6 hits (triple, double, 4 singles):
R-P 8 hits (triple, double, 6 singles):
Pitching SG: Middendorf 7.0 IP 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 3 W, 5 K, win
Pitching R-P: Hoiness 6.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 1 ER, 2 W, 3 K
Records: SG 3-9, R-P 2-14
SG LINEUP: p Brinley Middendorf, c Sydney Holland, 1b Lydia Solum, 2b Addyson McHugh, ss Katelyn Kraus, 3b Emerson Ingvalson, lf, Izabel Kaufmann, cf Maggie Lile, rf Siri Konkel, pinch hitters Madilyn Ostern, Clara Myrah, Peyton Thompson, Haley Ellingson, Alison Frydenlund

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Spring Grove Softball 2023 (4:30 p.m. unless noted)
>>3 wins, 9 losses
L at Plainview-Elgin-Millville 3-18
L at Fillmore Central/Lanesboro 7-17
L vs. Southland 2-17
L vs. La Crescent-Hokah 0-25
L vs. Houston 1-13
L at Mabel-Canton 0-15
L at Houston 5-12
W vs. Lyle/Pacelli 6-4
W vs. Lyle/Pacelli 6-2
L vs. GMLOK 0-8
Fri. 5-12                    at Southland (Rose Creek) postpone
L at Rushford-Peterson 10-20
W vs. Rushford-Peterson 7-6
Tues. 5-16               Schaeffer Academy (double header)