Big third inning lifts Wildcats over Crickets in opener
Blair-Taylor second baseman Madalynn Frederixon secured an out during their game against Fall Creek last week Tuesday. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
The Blair-Taylor softball team found itself in an unusual position early in its first game of the season, but a four-run third inning put them back in control.
Playing its first game in the typical cold, windy Wisconsin spring conditions, the Wildcats trailed 2-1 after two and a half innings. With one swing of the bat, B-T’s offense warmed up.
Chloe Wagner sent the first pitch of the bottom of the third inning over the left field fence, tying the game at two.
Callie Wagner walked in the next at-bat and came around to score on an error. After another error and a walk loaded the bases with two outs, Lindsay Steien lined a pitch to center field, bringing in Lexi Lofgren and Kierstyn Kindschy to put the Wildcats ahead 5-2.
The Crickets didn’t go quietly, however.
Fall Creek took advantage of two walks with consecutive run-scoring singles that brought them back within a run. The tying run was on second, but was left there after a line drive was caught by shortstop Abby Thompson.
B-T loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth, but managed just one run. That run was scored when Kindschy, who singled earlier in the inning, came home on a passed ball.
The Wildcats added another run in the sixth when Chloe Wagner led off with a triple and scored on a single by Callie Wagner.
B-T had seven hits in the game, two by Steien and two by Chloe Wagner. Steien also had two RBIs as she had a double and a triple in the game.
Steien was the winning pitcher, as she tossed the first five innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out seven. Two of Fall Creek’s runs were unearned. Chloe Wagner go the save, pitching the last two innings, striking out four and walking four.
The Wildcats began the season 1-0 as they attempt to advance to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Tournament for a fifth consecutive season. They didn’t lose a game until the state semifinal a year ago when they fell to Juda/Albany.
B-T was slated to host Osseo-Fairchild on Monday before going to Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran to begin Dairyland Conference play on Tuesday. That will be followed by games against Eleva-Strum on Thursday and at Independence/Gilmanton on Friday.
Next week, the Wildcats will host Alma Center Lincoln on Tuesday and play at Melrose-Mindoro on Thursday.
