BLOOMINGTON – Brooke Burris led Edwardsville’s softball team on the day with three hits and two RBIs, but a five-run top of the sixth inning gave New Lenox Lincoln-Way West a 9-3 win over the Tigers in the IHSA Class 4A super-sectional game Monday evening at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.
The loss ended a highly successful season for the Tigers, who wind up at 29-10 on the year, while the Warriors move on to the state finals this weekend at the Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria.
Edwardsville, which was the home team for the game, took the lead in the bottom of the first, starting with a lead-off triple by Burris, who scored on a later out of Maksine Straub’s RBI single to center to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Edwardsville threatened to add to its lead in the third, starting with a lead-off walk to Burris, a walk to Straub with one out, and a two-out walk to Lily Maxwell to load the bases. A flyout ended the inning without the Tigers scoring, keeping it a 1-0 game.
Lincoln-Way West took the lead for good in the top of the fourth, starting when Kaylea Armstrong reached on an error, Jessica Noga walked, and Hannah Borchert singled home Armstrong, and Noga scored on a throw to second to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. One out later, Reese Forsytha singled home pinch runner Kasey Cusack to make it 3-1 before the inning ended.
The Tigers cut the lead to 3-2 in the home half of the fourth, starting with a lead-off single by Audrey De La Torre Cruz, who was sacrificed to second by Sophie Antonini. Another sacrifice bunt, this by Amelia Wilfong, sent De La Torre Cruz to third, where she scored on Burris’ RBI single to center. Bryar Ellinger singled, moving Burris to second, but the rally ended on a groundout to keep the score 3-2.
The Warriors extended their lead to 4-2 in the fifth, with a two-out double by Armstrong, and an RBI single by Noga bringing in the run. Lincoln-Way West then iced the game in the top of the sixth, starting with one out, when Forsytha reached on an error by the shortstop, and a Reese Rourke triple sent home Forsytha to make it 5-2. A bunt single by Paige Sievert brought in Rourke to make it 6-2, then one out later, Cusack doubled home Sievert to increase the lead to 7-2, then went to third on a passed ball. Armstrong then lined a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence for a home run, scoring Cusack ahead of her, making the score 9-2 for Lincoln-Way West.
Edwardsville did get a run back in the bottom of the sixth, starting with walks to De La Torre Cruz and Wilfong, when, with one out, Burris doubled home De La Torre Cruz to make it 9-3, Wilfong stopping at third. A lineout and a flyout ended the inning, and the Tigers were retired in the seventh to give the Warriors the 9-3 win and a place in the state finals.
Burris led the Tigers with her three hits and two RBIs, while Straub wound up with a hit and an RBI, and Ellinger, Marley Fox, and De La Torre Cruz all had hits. Fox went 5 2/3 innings in the circle, and was charged with the loss, giving up nine runs, three earned, on nine hits, walking five and striking out four. Sam Workman pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, giving up no runs on two hits, walking one, and fanning one.
The Tigers’ season ends at 29-10, while the Warriors are now 28-7, and advance to the state finals in Peoria this weekend, where they will play Chicago Marist Catholic, who won The Ballpark at Rosemont super-sectional 10-1 over St. Charles East, in the first semifinal Friday at 2:30 p.m. The winner will play the winner of Mundelein and Oswego Saturday at 4:45 p.m. for the state championship, while the third-place game is set for 12:15 p.m. that afternoon.
