IB softball advances to state, PND baseball falls short

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Sophomore Sara Finn hit a tie-breaking homer in the top of the seventh and Illini Bluffs held on to beat Carrollton, 2-1, in the class 1A softball super-sectional at Athens on Monday.

The wins sends the Tigers (24-1) to their fifth consecutive trip to state. Ilini Bluffs will face Trico (23-5) in the state semifinals Friday at 12:30 p.m. at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

IB fell behind, 1-0, but got an RBI single from Chloe Eeten which scored Finn with the tying run in the fifth. Finn led off the seventh and lined a pitch over the rightcenterfield fence put the Tigers ahead 2-0.

Carrollton put the leadoff hitter on base in the bottom of the seventh and got her to third base with two outs. But pitcher Cora Ellison ended the game with a strikeout to send the Tigers to state.

In high school baseball Notre Dame’s season came to an end one win shy of a trip to state. Wilmington shut out the Irish 5-0 to win the class 2A Geneseo super-sectional on Monday.

Notre Dame making its first appearance in the baseball Elite 8 since 2011. The Irish finish the season 22-12.

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