The Becker Bulldog girls softball team lost their first state playoff game Thursday morning in Mankato, dropping them out of competition for a state title.
They rebounded to win their second game of the day in the consolation bracket and played for the consolation championship (fifth place) Friday morning against Alexandria, which they lost.
Winona 9, Becker 4
In the state quarterfinal game, Becker got off to a great start in the top of the first inning when Payton Williams led off with a home run. Two batters later, Alexa Hanowski added another solo home run and the Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the inning.
The Winhawks (20-4) loaded the bases in their half of the inning, but Becker worked out of the jam to preserve their lead.
In the bottom of the second, Winona was able to put together a huge two-out rally and put seven runs on the board by way of three singles, a double and two home runs.
Becker pitcher Brianna Corey was removed from the game at that point with Corey Weise coming in to pitch the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs were able to answer with a run in the top of the third when Sydney Lamott reached on a walk and scored on a Hanowski single.
In the top of the fifth, Becker plated their fourth and final run on another solo home run by Williams to make the score 7-4.
The Winhawks crushed Becker’s hopes with two more runs in the third, to make the score 9-4 and cruised through the next three innings unscathed.
In the seventh, Becker was able to get their first two runners on base, but that was as far as the rally would go.
Williams had a great game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two home runs. Hanowski also was productive, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.
Corey took the loss with two innings pitched with Weise pitching the final four innings.
Becker 18, Simley 2
In the consolation semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday, Becker was to face Simley who had lost to Hermantown, 18-12 in the quarterfinals.
The Spartans got on the board first with a run in the top of the first, but Becker answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Hailey Fitzpatrick, Erika Schwartz, Hanowski and Ellie Schwartz all singled to score two runs. Corey followed with a three-run homer to make the score 5-1.
After a quick top of the second, the Bulldogs tied a state tournament record with 11 runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 16-1. In the inning, 16 batters came to the plate with 10 of them getting base hits, two reaching on errors and one earning a walk.
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the bottom of the third on RBI singles by Fitzpatrick and Williams.
The Spartans added a run in the top of the fourth to make the final 18-2 in five innings.
Williams again was the team leader at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Fitzpatrick also was 3-for-4, Ellie Schwartz was 3-for-3 and Corey was 2-for-3 with four RBIs.
Corey got the win on the mound, going all five innings and allowing two runs on four hits and two walks.
“Our first game was a tough pill to swallow, as we didn't play our best softball,” said Head Coach Jason Baune. “We had some uncharacteristic mistakes in the field and struggled to put the ball in play on offense with 15 strikeouts.”
Baune praised the Winhawks, saying “Winona is a very good team and it's hard to beat a good team if you're not on top of your own game.”
“I was very proud of how the girls responded in game two,” he said. “Instead of hanging their heads, they came out and played great with an impressive display at the plate.”
The 18 runs scored tied the state tournament record and the Bulldogs did it with only four turns at the plate.
Alexandria 5, Becker 1
In the consolation championship game, a three-run home run by Calley Richardson helped lift Alexandria past Becker 5-1 Friday morning at Caswell Park.
Amy Jost added a two-run single in the second inning.
The Bulldogs finished the season 20-6 overall.
