Two innings were the difference Wednesday night as the Riverside Bulldogs fell to the Wayne Falcons 7-3 in the 1A semi-final. Despite putting the leadoff batter aboard in six out of the seven innings, Riverside struggled to string together hits, leaving four runners in scoring position. This was largely due to the ability of Falcon pitcher Izzie Moore, who struck out seven and limited Bulldog hitters. The Majority of the Wayne offense came in the first, scoring the first four that came to the plate. Then in the third, the Falcons were able to build on the lead with a two-run homer. After the homer, Peyton Schafer was excellent, allowing just one baserunner in the final three frames. However, outside of a chaotic string of errors that spotted the Bulldogs two runs in the seventh, Moore held the Bulldogs down to secure a spot in the final. 

Out of the gate, it appeared as if the Bulldogs’ offensive momentum from the quarterfinal would carry over. Adaline Martens led off the game with a rope of a double to immediately put Riverside in position to score. However, as would be the case for a large portion of the game, Moore would shut it down. Every time throughout the first five innings that the Bulldogs put the leadoff batter aboard, Moore responded with three straight outs. 

On the other side, the Falcons got off to a quick start. After Ella Whitney earned a leadoff walk, the Falcons crushed back-to-back RBI doubles, followed by a Moore RBI single and a Crystal Peck RBI groundout to score the first four batters. Although Schafer faced the minimum in the second (after Sophia Fenner became just the second catcher this season to catch Ella Whitney stealing), the Wayne bats when back to work. Three consecutive hits highlighted by a Moore long bomb tacked on three to bring the lead to 7-0. 

After giving up the homer, Schafer was excellent. Only two Falcons reached base in her final three off of an error and a walk, and picked up three strikeouts while holding the line for the Bulldogs. In the sixth, Riverside finally broke through as Sydney Somers cashed in a Fenner leadoff double to put the Bulldogs on the board. However, the string hits elude them, including a couple of rockets that went right into a Falcon glove. 

Down by six heading into the final inning, the Bulldogs finally caught a break. A wild play that saw Wayne commit three errors scored two as Lilli Reed came all the way around on a little league home run that started with a bunt. Despite the hint of life breathed back in the Bulldogs, Moore once again shut the door to push Wayne to the state championship game. Head coach Lacie Patterson noticed the ability of Moore to change her velocity with effectiveness. 

Despite Moor’s performance, the Bulldogs had some success but the timing of them didn’t help.

Although the hopes of a state championship this year are dashed, there is a bright future ahead with Riverside only losing one senior.

The Bulldogs still have a chance to tack on to an already successful season and end the season in third place.

Riverside will take on St. Edmond in the third place on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. KJAN will have coverage starting at 5:30 pm.