HOISINGTON — The bases were loaded with Hoisington's top two hitters ready to bat.
Southeast of Saline pitcher Lexi Jacobson stopped the Cardinals' rally by retiring Jordyn Boxberger and Mollie Steiner to earn an intense 2-0 regional championship softball victory. The Trojans (22-3) qualify for the 3A state softball tournament by shutting out the Cardinals 2-0 for the second straight year.
TROJANS 2, CARDINALS 0 (G2) — The Cardinals (20-7) challenged the Trojans with eight baserunners, but Jacobson retired eight consecutive batters with runners in scoring position.
Steiner was stranded at second base in the first and sixth innings. Mackenzie Foulger and Carly Delzeit singled and Claire Crutcher reached on a seventh-inning error to load the bases.
Jacobson tossed Boxberger's groundball to catcher Maddie Harris to force Foulger at home. Left fielder Jaci Burgardt caught Steiner's game-ending fly ball.
Cardinal pitcher Boxberger (10-4) struck out four batters. Bryna Baird's first-inning single scored Jacobson. Baird reached on an error and scored on Abby Wyant's fourth-inning double.
CARDINALS 3, BELOIT 2 (G1) — Boxberger scored on Ellie Crawford's first-inning sacrifice fly. Gabby Reif and Delzeit scored on Boxberger's second-inning single.
Ella Manning scored on a K Follis fourth-inning sacrifice fly. Karlie Smith scored on a sixth-inning passed ball for Beloit (17-8).
Boxberger (10-3) pitched four innings and reliever Crawford earned a save with four strikeouts in three innings. First baseman Paige Lamatsch threw out Peyton Remus at second base for the game's final out.
Beloit 000 101 0 — 2 6 1
Hoisington 120 000 x — 3 4 0
Wright and S. Smith. Boxberger, Crawford (5) and Crutcher. and Jones. W—Boxberger, 10-4. L—Wright. SV—Crawford. 2B—H—Boxberger 2, Steiner 2; B—S Smith.
Hoisington 000 000 0 — 0 6 1
SE Saline 100 100 x — 2 4 1
Boxberger and Crutcher. and Jones. W—Jacobson. L—Boxberger, 10-5. 2B—H—Steiner.; SE—Wyatt.
3A HOISINGTON—FINALS—SQ SE Saline 22-3; SE Saline 2, Hoisington/Central Plains 0; SEMIFINALS—SE Saline 10, Ellsworth 3; Hoisington 3, Beloit 2; FIRST ROUND—SE Saline 15, Russell 0; Ellsworth 13, Minneapolis 3; Hoisington/Central Plains 8, Smoky Valley 1; Beloit 7, Plainville/Stockton 2
