Following a loss to Edgewood-Colesburg on Monday afternoon, Exira-EHK/Audubon headed into Tuesday morning needing two wins to keep their season alive. They took care of West Monona 11-1 in the early slate that was aided by an 8 run second inning to set up a matchup with Southeast Warren at 7:30. The evening game was everything you would want in an elimination game. A back and forth game that entered the seventh inning tied, and ended with a walk off groundball from Anna Larson that scored Taryn Petersen from second on a passed ball at first base. The Spartans defeated the Warhawks 5-4 and will take on Edgewood-Colesburg on Wednesday afternoon.
The first game was a statement game for Exira-EHK/Audubon, who needed a big win to advance. Although West Monona scored first, it was Riley Miller who instantly responded with a go ahead, two run home run in the 1st inning to give the Wheelers the lead. They wouldn’t look back and extended their lead up to nine runs by the time the second inning ended. 11 batters came to the plate before the third out was recorded, with almost every player recording a hit or reaching base. Taryn Petersen would come around to score in the third inning and Exira-EHK/Audubon got the final three outs in third inning to run rule the Spartans. A much needed win, but the job was not finished. They had a matchup set for later that evening with Southeast Warren.
After what felt like an eternity, first pitch against the Warhawks took place just after 7:30pm in what would be one of the best games of the tournament thus far. Exira-EHK Audubon again surrendered a first inning lead and it was 1-0 Warhawks after a half inning. In the Spartans half of the inning, Taryn Petersen led off with a single, stole a base and scored to tie the game off of an Anna Larson single. Riley Miller then reached via fielder’s choice. She came around to score when Lucy Stanerson singled and it was quickly 2-1 Spartans. In the second, Zoey Rasmussen led off with a rocket that cleared the left field fence for a solo home run and gave Spartans a two run lead. It would take two more innings for a run to score, but it would come from good base running by Abby Wanser who advanced on a ground ball.
The game would turn on it’s head in the 5th and 6th inning. The Warhawks trimmed the lead to 4-2 on a triple with an error by Belle Ewing and Southeast Warren was in striking distance. In the sixth, Kiara Wallace scored Lila Shriver on a triple and with two outs the nine hitter Harper Wallace delivered a single into left that tied the ballgame at four runs apiece. Both teams could not score in their next at bat’s, so it was 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Taryn Petersen got hit by a pitch and stole a base. Anna Larsen stepped up and gounded a ball back to the pitcher Geisler who threw the ball away at first and Petersen came around to score to win a classic game. Exira-EHK Audubon kept their season going and will continue on Wednesday. Head Coach Tom Petersen summed up the day as a whole.
The Spartans will take on Rachel Eglseder again tomorrow as they take on Edgewood-Colesburg. Coach Petersen wants to make sure his team stays composed:
The bottom of the order came through both at the plate and in the field:
Coach Petersen stresses the importance of being able to win a game in the 7th inning:
Exira-EHK Audubon will take on Edgewood-Colesburg at 12:45pm on Wednesday and will need to beat them twice if they want to make the State Title game. Coverage of the second game (if needed) will take place at 5:15 against the Vikings on KJAN Radio Atlantic
