WIAA softball: Burlington thwarts off Fort's upset bid, wins in walk-off fashion

BURLINGTON — Facing off for the second time in four days, the Blackhawks gave the favored Demons on a major run for their money.

It was not quite enough, as 12th-seeded Fort lost 3-2 to fifth-seeded Burlington on Allison Calkins’ walk-off single in the seventh inning in a Division 1 regional semifinal on Tuesday.

The Demons (17-8) came to the dish in the seventh trailing 2-0 and had runners on the corners with two away after Kayla Warner’s ground out. Kasey Lois clutched up with a game-tying double to center on a fly ball.

After Emersyn Biedrzycki was hit by a pitch, Calkins lined a 1-2 pitch to right, plating Lois to end it.

Fort, which fell 14-4 in five innings to Burlington on Saturday, jumped ahead with a two-run second inning. Kendra Pfaff singled to lead off the inning, reaching third when Mia Bilau bunted and reached on Lois’ error at second base. Pfaff and Bilau then each scored on separate wild pitches.

Both teams came up empty with runners in scoring position in the middle innings. Burlington stranded Warner after her one-out triple in the third and left Ava Schkeryantz on second after a one-out double in the fourth. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, left Olivia Rue on base after she doubled to left to open the fourth and had runners on the corners in the sixth before a dropped third strike ended the threat.

Fehrman went the distance in the loss for the Blackhawks (5-19), allowing three unearned runs on 10 hits.

Burlington advances to face fourth-seeded Kettle Moraine in Thursday’s regional final.

BURLINGTON 3, FORT 2Fort 020 000 0 — 2 6 1

Burlington 000 000 3 — 3 10 1

Leading hitters — FA: Rue (2B); B: Calkins 2x4, Schkeryantz 3x3 (2B), Lois (2B), Warner (3B).

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — FA: Fehrman L; 6.2-10-3-0-0-0; B: Calkins 5-4-2-0-0-6, Kafar W; 2-2-0-0-0-1.