Ashley Marchessault hit a walkoff, three-run homer in the eighth inning to give second-seeded Shakopee a 4-1 victory over sixth-seeded Minnetonka at Miller Park in the semifinal round of the Class 4A, Section 2 softball playoffs on Friday.
Lauren Lindahl finished with eight strikeouts in three innings of relief for the Sabers.
Joie Fittante had three hits and an RBI for the Sabers.
In the other winner's bracket game, fourth-seeded Bloomington Jefferson upset top-seeded Chanhassen 5-2. The Jaguars jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the second inning. The Storm tied the score at 2-2 with runs in the fourth and fifth. The Jaguars scored two in the sixth and one in the seventh to pull away. Hayley Effertz had two hits and an RBI, Tabitha Acketz had one hit, two RBI and a run scored and Cloie Moore pitched a complete game for the Jaguars. Kenzie Miller had three hits and an RBI and Tori Tollefson had two hits and an RBI for the Storm.
In the loser's bracket, fifth-seeded Prior Lake defeated Burnsville 4-3 and the Skippers 3-2, and third-seeded Eden Prairie defeated Chaska 8-2 and the Storm 6-5.
Class 4A, Section 3: Fifth-seeded Eagan upset second-seeded Park of Cottage Grove 11-6 at Richfield to stay alive in the loser's bracket. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead with multiple runs in each of the first three innings. The Wildcats blew the game open with four runs in the sixth inning. The Wolfpack attempted to come back with four runs in the seventh inning but could not overcome the nine-run deficit. Emma Redlin had two hits and three RBI, Maggie Murphy and Sidney New had two hits and two runs scored each, Mallory Stiff had one hit, two RBI and a run scored, Addison Goihl had one hit and three RBI and Lauren Gamme had one hit, one RBI and two runs scored for the Wildcats. Bryanna Olson led the Wolfpack with two hits and two RBI, Hannah Schluetter had two hits and an RBI and Saren Croker had one hit, one RBI and one run scored. … In the other elimination game, fourth-seeded Eastview scored in the sixth inning to defeat sixth-seeded Hastings 4-3. Jenna Kuhn led the Lightning with three hits, two RBI and two runs scored and Olivia Weinberg had two hits, two RBI and one run scored. MacKenzie Putnam led the Raiders with two hits, one RBI and two runs scored. Kayla Simacek had 10 strikeouts in six innings for the Raiders.
Class 4A, Section 4: Fourth-seeded Cretin-Derham Hall scored three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to defeat seventh-seeded Roseville 4-3 at McKnight Field and advance to the Class 4A, Section 4 final. Cretin-Derham Hall got on the board first in the third inning, but Roseville quickly responded with all three of its runs in the fourth. Cretin-Derham Hall cut into the deficit in the fifth with one run before taking the lead for good with a pair of runs in the sixth. Emily McQuillan had three hits and a run scored to lead Cretin-Derham Hall. Jania Williams led Roseville with three hits and an RBI and Sophia Kopp had two hits and a run scored. ... In the loser's bracket, top-seeded Stillwater defeated Mounds View 9-4. Haley Eder-Zdechlik led the Ponies with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Taylor Gray had two hits, two RBI and one run scored, Ani Bell had two hits and three RBI, Torri Chute had two hits and one run scored and Maddie Johnson had one hit, two RBI and one run scored for the Ponies. The Ponies then defeated White Bear Lake 6-3. The Bears defeated Woodbury 1-0 in nine innings earlier in the day.
Class 4A, Section 6: Molly McHugh singled with Katie Erickson on third base to give top-seeded Edina a 1-0 walkoff victory over second-seeded Bloomington Kennedy in the ninth inning at Pamela Park to advance to the section final. Courtney Kopischke struck out 16 while allowing five hits and four walks for the Eagles. She also led the Eagles with two hits. Genevieve Ovsak struck out five while allowing five hits for the Hornets. ... In the loser's bracket, third-seeded Hopkins defeated fifth-seeded Minneapolis Southwest 6-1 and sixth-seeded Armstrong 11-1.
