NORTH MANKATO -- Hayfield flexed some muscle, but Cherry had a little bit more.
Hayfield hit two home runs in a Class A state softball tournament quarterfinal game at Caswell Park, but Cherry answered with a pitcher who kept the Vikings off balance most of the game.
The result was 13 strikeouts by Tigers pitcher Joely Roberts as Cherry won 7-3 to send Hayfield to the consolation bracket for a second consecutive season.
Carrie Rutledge got Hayfield (18-8) off to a fast start, hitting the third pitch of the game over the center field fence for a solo home run.
But No. 10-ranked Cherry (21-4) answered with two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead for good.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Tigers extended their lead to 6-1 before Grace Mindrup blasted a two-run home run in the fifth inning to pull Hayfield within three runs.
The Vikings loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, but Maggie Streightiff hit a hard line drive to second base and Cherry second baseman Abby Mayry doubled a runner off first base to end the game.
Hayfield will play in a consolation semifinal at approximately 7 p.m. tonight.
Cherry 7, Hayfield 3
(Quarterfinal)
Hayfield#100#020#0#--#3#7#1
Cherry#201#301#x#--#7#11#0
Hayfield: Grace Mindrup 3-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI; Carrie Rutledge 1-for-2, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI; Alexis Duducha 1-for-4; Maggie Streightiff 1-for-4; Kelly Johnson 1-for-3. Pitchers: Jacinda Gustine (LP) 4 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 0 K; Justine Sanvick 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.
ADVERTISEMENT
Cherry: Rayanna Peterson 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI; Joely Roberts 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 RBI; Abby Mayry 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI; Shaina Olson 2-for-3; 1 R, 1 RBI. Pitcher: Roberts (WP) 7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 13 K.
