EHS Softball Season Closes With Loss In Sectional

The two runs came in the third and seventh as Alyssa Martin hit two solo home runs.

But Freeburg put together three runs in the second and tacked on a final run in the fourth.

EHS went up and down in the first and second innings. The Midgets, meanwhile, moved into a 3-0 lead in the second. With one out, Maggie Wolf drew a walk. Aryana Blomenkamp then singled. A sacrifice bunt by Kate Whitworth was an out but a throw as Wolf rounded third went astray and both Wolf and Blomenkamp scored on the error. Olivia Joseph singled, took second on a wild pitch and came home on a single by Lindsey Muskopf.

EHS then tallied in the third on the home run by Martin. Saige Althoff doubled with one out, but the Hearts couldn't get her home.

The Hearts put two runners on base in the top of the fourth. Natalie Amrstrong singled. With one out, Ryley Engel singled. But the two runners were left stranded on a fly ball and a strikeout.

The Midgets came up in the bottom of the fourth to tack on a final run. With two outs, Kate Whitworth drew a walk. Joseph followed with her second single of the contest. Muskopf then produced once again, with a single that drove in Whitworth.

EHS went up and down in the fifth and sixth innings.

Freeburg had a runner on base in the fifth as Aubrey Waelte singled but a line drive to second by Catie Beaston was the second out and Waelte was caught off base for the final out. The Midgets went up and down in the sixth.

Effingham came up in the seventh to score its second run as Martin hit her second home run of the contest. But that was the last of the scoring.

Freeburg's Samantha Roulanaitis went all seven innings, giving up five hits, striking out three and not giving up a walk.

Althoff was the losing pitcher, allowing seven hits, two walks and striking out three.

Coach Jerry Trigg's squad ended the season with a 23-11 record.

Freeburg advances with a 31-3 record and will now face host Waterloo at 4 p.m. Friday for the sectional championship. Waterloo defeated Marion 8-3. The sectional winner advances to the Decatur Super-sectional at Millikin University Monday and will meet the winner of the Charleston Sectional, either Chatham Glenwood or Mount Zion. Those two teams meet Friday at 5 p.m. for the championship.

Class 3A Waterloo Sectional

Effingham                001    000    1    --    2-5-3

Freeburg                 030    100    x    --    4-7-0

WP -- Roulanaitis. LP -- Althoff.

Effingham -- Armstrong, single; Engel, single; Martin, 2 home runs, 2  RBI; Althoff, double

Freeburg -- Joseph, 2 singles; Muskopf, 3 singles, 2 RBI; Waeltz, single; Blomenkamp, single