Things got off to a good start for the home team when Payton Williams scored on an RBI single by Marikate Wegeleben in the first.

 

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Allison Cieslak singled, stole second and scored on an RBI double by Cassie Althoff to complete the game’s scoring.  

 

On senior night, Becker’s four seniors set the pace as Cieslak picked up three hits, Althoff and Wegeleben drove in the team’s only runs and Kadee Vesledahl got the start on the mound.  

 

It was Vesledahl's first start of the season as she continues to rehab from off-season shoulder surgery.  Vesledahl was on a pitch limit, but pitched a scoreless first inning and Brianna Corey entered and pitched the final six innings for the combined shutout.  

 

The win capped their second consecutive undefeated conference season at 13-0.

 

 

As the #2 seed in the first round of the Section 8AAA playoffs, Becker received a first round bye, then hosted #10 Monticello and #7 St. Cloud Tech in the playoffs Wednesday.  

 

The Tigers and Magic played at 3 p.m. and the Magic came away with a 14-1 win in five innings.   Following that game, Becker took on the Magic in round two and came away with the important three-run win.

 

The Magic looked to continue the momentum they had gained in game one and did so early when Payton Hanson led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly ball for a 1-0 lead in the first.  

 

In the bottom of the inning, Becker answered in a big way when Cieslak reached on a single and an error in right field to gain second base. Williams followed with a great bunt and beat it out to put runners at first and third with no outs.   After Cassie Althoff walked to load the bases, Marikate Wegeleben drove a 2-2 pitch deep over the left field fence for her second grand slam of the season.  

 

In the bottom of the third, the home team extended the lead to 5-1 when Payton Williams scored on a Marikate Wegeleben single.   The Magic kept fighting and trimmed the lead to 5-2 with a run in the fourth, but Becker responded with a run  in the bottom of the inning when Sam Lorette singled and pinch runner Alexa Hanowski scored on a Cieslak sacrifice fly to center.  

 

The Magic kept the pressure on in the fifth when they scored a run to make it 6-3 and loaded the bases with two outs.  However, Corey picked up a big strike out to end the threat.  Haley Harmon replaced Corey on the mound in the sixth on the mound and closed out the victory with two scoreless innings.

 

Leading hitters for Becker were Williams (2-3, two runs) and Wegeleben (2-3, run, five RBIs).

 

Corey got the win, going five strong innings.  She allowed nine hits and walked one batter while striking out five.  Harmon got the save with two perfect innings including one strike out.

 

With the win, Becker advances to the semifinals to be played Monday at noon.  As the #2 seed, the Bulldogs will take on #3 seed Big Lake at home.  Section play continues on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.