Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Softball

Mike Randleman – Faribault Daily News

Some late-season dramatics may be beneficial for the upcoming playoffs.

The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown softball team (10-4) took host Mayer Lutheran (7-13) to 10 innings Friday night in New Germany. Mayer Lutheran scored two in the bottom of the ninth to walk off with a 3-2 victory with two outs.

The Crusaders scored first with a run in the bottom of the first inning and held WEM scoreless until the sixth inning. The Buccaneers didn’t get a hit until the third.

Still down 1-0, Maddy Meskan hit a two-out RBI single in the sixth.

Both teams went down in order in the seventh and eighth.

WEM was retired in order again in the ninth by Mayer Lutheran’s Anna Asmus.

Mayer had runners on first and second base in the bottom of the ninth. WEM’s Trista Hering, who did not allow an earned run in 9 ⅔ innings, got a strikeout, flyout and strikeout to extend the game.

Brielle Bartelt hit a two-out RBI single in the top of the 10th to give the Bucs their first lead.

The Crusaders’ leadoff hitter walked in the 10th and later came around to score on a wild pitch and an error made in the next at-bat.

Marta Saulsbury hit a walk-off RBI single to hand Mayer Lutheran the win.

Fortunately for WEM, Friday’s game didn’t matter for seeding. It learned Friday morning it is the No. 2 seed out of seven teams in Subsection 1A West.

The Bucs will host No. 7 United South Central (1-11) in an elimination game 5 p.m. Monday. A win advances WEM into the double-elimination stages.

The winner will play at the high seed 5 p.m. Tuesday against No. 3 Bethlehem Academy or No. 6 Glenville-Emmons/Alden-Conger.

At the top of the bracket, Hayfield earned the No. 1 seed and a bye. It will host the winner of No. 4 Blooming Prairie and No. 5 Hayfield.

WEM beat USC by scores of 15-5 (six innings) and 16-0 (four innings).

W — 000 001 000 1

M — 100 000 000 2

WEM hitting — Brielle Bartelt 2-5, RBI; Megan Adank 1-3, R, BB; Maddy Meskan 1-4, RBI; Hailie Tegmeier 0-3, R, BB; Nicole Nuetzman 0-3, SB, BB

WEM pitching — Trista Hering (L) 9⅔IP-4H-0ER-3R-4BB-15SO