The Barneveld girls’ softball team, 20-6 on the season and ranked second in the state in Division 5 according to MaxPreps, defeated River Ridge at home on Monday afternoon 4-2, then traveled to River Ridge Tuesday afternoon and won it 9-5.
In Monday’s game, the Eagles scored their first run in the second inning. Addison Walker was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Reese. Walker ended up at third base after a wild pitch and scored on Isabel Pohlman’s single making it 1-0.
Barneveld would go up 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. Eliza Gordon singled then stole second base. With one out, Hannah Esch reached base on an error and advanced to second on the same error. With runners on second and third, Aleea Norton singled to center field to score both runners.
The Eagles made it 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning when, with two outs, Mya Norton singled to score her sister Aleea from third base, who earlier walked to get on base.
In the sixth, River Ridge scored two runs to cut the lead down to 4-2, but pitcher Hannah Esch didn’t allow another run to score in the seventh. Esch pitched the entire game going seven innings allowing two runs on five hits, she struck out six and did not allow a walk.
Offensively, Gordon went 3×4 from the plate with a run scored. Mya Norton and Pohlman each had two hits. As a team Barneveld had eight hits.
On Tuesday afternoon, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Gordon leadoff with a single and ended up at second base due to an error. With one out, Esch singled. With runners at the corners Aleea Norton hit a sacrifice fly ball which scored Gordon. Later in the inning with two outs and bases loaded, River Ridge pitcher Abby Doyle walked in a run. Barneveld added another run in the third when Addison Walker drove in a run with a single scoring Aleea Norton who earlier singled. The Timberwolves tied the game in the bottom of the third when Josey Drone doubled and scored a runner. With runners on first and second, Abby Doyle singled in a run, and the next batter, Erin Adrian grounded out but scored a runner from third to tie it at 3-3.
Barneveld answered. In the top half of the fourth, they returned the favor by scoring three runs to go up 6-3. With two outs and runners on second and third base, Aleea Norton doubled to clear the bases, and she scored on Lauren Reese’s double to follow.
It was 6-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning after River Ridge’s Danica Hampton doubled, stole third base, and scored on a passed ball.
In the top of the seventh inning, Barneveld got three insurance runs to increase their lead. Reagan Knight doubled to score Mya Norton who earlier in the inning singled, and with two runners on base, Reagan Knight then doubled to score both of those runners and a 9-4 lead. River Ridge scored a run in the bottom half of the inning after Elaina Gage hit a triple and scored on a ground out making the final score 9-5.
Mya Norton got the win on the mound for Barneveld. She pitched four innings allowing four runs on four hits, she did not strike out a batter and issued four walks. McKenna Hopfensperger pitched three innings allowing one run on one hit, she struck out one and walked one.
Offensively, Gordon and Reese each had three hits to lead the Eagles at the plate. Esch, Knight and Aleea Norton each had two hits. As a team, they banged out 14 hits.
Barneveld will now enter the Division 5 WIAA playoffs and will play the winner of the Southwestern vs. Pecatonica winner on Tuesday, May 26 at Barneveld.