Baraboo beats Portage in eighth

In a game that started with so many walks and runs, it was only fitting that the Baraboo High School softball team scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning without a hit.

Portage pitcher Michelle Friedel finally started to show signs of wearing out in the eighth inning, as she walked three batters in a row before giving up a grounder to Baraboo's Ayla Jacobsen. With the game tied 5-5, the throw went home. But with speedy Abby Schlender doing the running, the game was decided as soon as Jacobsen made contact.

"I thought our intensity level was much better tonight," Baraboo coach Pat Reiger said. "The fire seemed to be back. I think they were a little bit embarrassed against Monroe, and they knew a possible shot at the conference title was on the line."

The Thunderbirds' were no-hit by Monroe in a 10-0 loss on Monday in a Badger crossover game.

The game was delayed because of rain and lightning, and when it got started there was still some rain falling. It made for difficult pitching conditions for Friedel and BHS pitcher Tiff Stanek. Each pitcher walked seven batters, with most of those walks coming at the start of the game.

Portage scored a run in the first inning and three more in the second, with Lizette Davis tripling to start the rally. After a hit, two hit batters, one walk and a couple of ground balls, the Warriors had a 4-1 lead.

Baraboo also benefited from the conditions at the plate.

In the third inning, Jacobsen led off with a single was followed by Stanek, who drove her in with a single. After Danielle Vander Schaaf bunted Stanek to second, Carly Brecka singled in the run. Sara Olsen reached on an error and Jasmine Gavin was hit by a pitch. Tara York and Julia Lumsden then knocked in runs with ground outs to give the Thunderbirds a 5-4 lead.

"We kept trying to get a dry ball in the game, but the first three innings it was sprinkling," Reiger said.

"Any time it got into the grass, the ball got soaked. It was because of the conditions," he said of the early runs for both sides.

The Warriors came back to tie the game in the sixth inning, when Mary Donohue doubled in Heather Wroten, who had got on base on a fielders choice and stole second.

Donohue led all hitters, going 4-for-4 with two doubles in the game.

Stanek went 2-for-3 to lead Baraboo.

"We talked about how we had to at least split with all the teams that were contending for the conference title," Reiger said, referring to a loss his team took earlier in the season against Portage. "They played with a lot of heart and a lot of mental toughness tonight, which was good to see."

Portage 130 001 00 — 5 7 3

Baraboo 104 000 01 — 6 5 2

WP-Stanek 4K 7BB LP-Friedel 2K 7BB

B-Stanek 2X3 Olsen 3B P-Donohue 4X4, (2)2B Krueger 2B, Davis 3B