Softball: Jefferson outlasts Johnson Creek in extra innings, 4-3

JOHNSON CREEK — The Eagles and Bluejays spent eight innings matching runs in a ranked softball battle.

Division 2 sixth-ranked Jefferson took the lead for good on Allie Hesse’s sacrifice fly in the ninth, then hung on for a 4-3 road victory over Johnson Creek in nonconference action on Thursday.

Bre Mengel and Ashlyn Enke led off the Eagles’ ninth by consecutive ground ball singles to the outfield. After Aeryn Messmann’s sacrifice bunt, Hesse’s sac fly to center plated Mengel.

The D5 eighth-ranked Bluejays were in business in the ninth when Hailey Fincutter singled with one out and Jenna Fincutter reached on an error. Lainey Benz’s fielder’s choice got the tying run to third base, but Hildie Dempsey got Hailey Kvalheim to ground out to end it.

Dempsey pitched five innings of three-hit ball in relief, allowing an unearned run in the decision for Jefferson (19-6). Aeryn Messmann started and allowed two earned runs on three hits with seven strikeouts in four frames.

Dempsey led off the game with a double, then scored on an infield error by Johnson Creek on Lily Fairfield’s bunt single. Benz singled home a two-out run in the bottom of the first.

Hannah Werning opened the Eagles’ fourth with a single. She came around on Fairfield’s sacrifice fly. Taylor Buglass kickstarted the Bluejays’ fourth with a double to center. With two away, Madi Brigowatz singled just inside the third-base line to plate Buglass and make it 2-all.

Dempsey and Johnson Creek starter Hailee Walk traded zeros until the eighth, when Dempsey helped her own cause with a two-out RBI single on a ground ball to right.

The Trailways South co-champion Bluejays (21-5) then used singles by Benz and Kvalheim followed by an intentional walk issued to Buglass to load the bases with no outs. After two runners were retired on separate plays at the plate, Buglass scored on a passed ball to make it 3-all. An infield pop out with runners at the corners ended the frame.

Jefferson caps the regular season at home versus Elkhorn today at 5 p.m., while second-seeded Johnson Creek hosts seventh-seeded Rio in a Division 5 regional semifinal on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

JEFFERSON 4, JOHNSON CREEK 3 (9)

Jefferson 100 100 011 — 4 14 2

Johnson Creek 100 100 010 — 3 6 3

Leading hitters — J: Dempsey 2x5 (2B), Mengel 2x5, Enke 2x5, Messmann 2x3, Werning 2x5, Smith 2x3; JC: L. Benz 2x4, Buglass (2B).

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — J: Messmann 4-3-2-2-2-7, Dempsey W; 5-3-1-0-3-2; JC: Walk L; 9-14-4-3-1-2.