The Riverside Bulldogs softball team hung on for a hard-fought 3-2 win over Exira-EHK-Audubon in Audubon Tuesday night. As with most one-run games, the difference was the right hit at the right time. For Riverside, the big hit came early on and although they had to deal with runners in scoring positions late in the ballgame, Payton Schafer shut the door.

Riverside was looking to get going early on the road, and they did just that. Starting with a double from Madison Kelley, the Bulldogs scored 3 two-out runs in the opening frame. Kelley scored on a ball that leaked into the outfield off the bat of  Schafer. Adaline Martens followed Schafer with a double to put two in scoring position, and then came the big hit. Sydney Somers knocked a ball into right that was just out of the diving reach of Jordan Milford. The 2-RBI base hit would provide all the offense that was needed.

Needless to say, the pitching from both sides was exceptional. Schafer picked up nine strikeouts in her 7.0 innings of work. Through the first 3 innings, she gave up just a pair of hits and worked around leadoff baserunners in all three innings. On the other side, Riley Miller got into a groove after the first. Striking out 10, she allowed just two hits after the opening frame. She held Exira-EHK-Audubon in the game allowing just two baserunners in the final three innings.

In the fourth, it seemed like Exira-EHK-Audubon might break through. After a leadoff base hit from Miller, Abby Wanser brought Miller home with an RBI single. A groundout and a couple of passed balls later, Wanser would score to cut the deficit to one. Looking to replicate the two-out rally Riverside had in the first, Lucy Stanerson grabbed her second hit of the ball game and Alissa Testroet earned a walk. Both would find themselves in scoring position with a chance to give Exira-EHK-Audubon the lead. However, the big hit eluded them. The same was true in the fifth when Taryn Petersen found herself on third after a single and a pair of stolen bases. Schafer shut the door in the final two innings retiring five of the last six batters and striking out the side in the seventh.

Head coach Lacie Patterson was pleased with the early innings after a few slow starts

Schafer was also on point Tuesday, and the staff took notice.

Exira-EHK-Audubon is no easy out and Riverside believes the proves that they are where they should be.

The win is Riverside’s sixth in their last seven games, putting them at 12-2 on the year. For Exira-EHK-Audubon, they fall to .500 on the year dropping to 7-7. Riverside will return home to face Underwood on Thursday, while Exira-EHK-Audubon will head out on the road to face Logan-Magnolia.