Exira-EHK/Audubon dropped their first round matchup at the State Softball Tournament to Edgewood-Colesburg by a score of 6-3. Despite an early 1-0 lead in the first off of an rbi single by Riley Miller, the Vikings responded immediately with a solo homer by Addi Schmelzer to tie the game. It was back and forth in the 4th inning, as both the Vikings and Exira-EHK/Audubon scored two each in the 4th and it was 3-3 going to the back half. Addi Schmelzer turned the game on it’s head with a two run homer in the 6th and the Vikings would take that lead to the end and added one more to win the game 6-3. Exira-EHK/Audubon now faces elimination the rest of the way.
Exira-EHK/Audubon came in to the state tournament as the number one ranked team in the state and faced the #8 Edgewood-Colesburg Vikings. Exira-EHK/Audubon jumped on the first opportunity to score when Riley Miller laced a single into center to score Taryn Petersen from first to make it 1-0 after one. That lead did not last long when Viking Addi Schmelzer stepped to the plate with two outs in the second inning. She came in to the game with 0 homers on the season, but sent a game tying solo shot over the left field fence. The score held at 1-1 until there were two outs in the top of the 4th.
The 4th inning was the most eventful for both sides. Riley Miller had two outs with a runner on first but walked both Lauren Kirby and Addi Schmelzer to load the bases. Chloe Bennett made those walks pay with a two RBI single to give the Vikings a 3-1 lead. Although Riley Miller allowed those two runs to score, it was her who put her team back in the ballgame with a 2-out, 2-rbi single in the bottom half of the inning to tie the ballgame.
What felt like a big momentum swing for Exira-EHK/Audubon turned out to be the only runs they would score the rest of the ballgame. The second half belonged to the Vikings. A single by McKenna Hoeffer led things off for the Edgewood-Colesburg and Addi Schmelzer came up with 1 away. Entering the game with 0 home runs and now one on the day, hit a two-run, go ahead home run to the opposite field and gave the Vikings a 5-3 lead with six outs to go. Rachel Eglseder struck out the side in the bottom of the 6th bringing her total to 14. She finished with 15 on the day. Eglseder also singled in the 7th to bring home Faith Dugan home. The Vikings set Exira-EHK/Audubon down in order in the 7th to win 6-3. Head Coach Tom Petersen recapped the day and looked ahead to tomorrow with their season on the line.
Addi Schmelzer delivered on two home runs which happened to be the first two she has hit all season. Coach Petersen had to tip his cap:
With their season on the line on Tuesday morning, Coach Petersen wants his team to be ready:
Exira-EHK/Audubon will take on West Monona at 10:30am on Tuesday morning. Both teams have their season on the line. Listen live on KJAN Atlantic!
