Spencer, Ia (Northwest Iowa Now) – It was a clash of Class 4A Top 15 teams on Wednesday night as the #15 Spencer Softball team hosted #10 Bishop Heelan of Sioux City.
Many of the statistics foretold a good ball game between the two teams, but none more so than the pitching matchup as Jersey Vail took the circle for Spencer and Erin Fitzpatrick threw for Heelan.
The teams traded zeros through the first inning, and then Vail retired the Crusader side in order for the top of the 2nd.
Vail led off the bottom of the 2nd with a double. Kelsi Sonius came in to pinch run for her and would come around to score after Jasmyn Christensen created some chaos with a bunt.
Heelan got one runner on base in each of the 3rd and 4th innings, but Vail kept them away from the plate, piling up 5 strikeouts over that time.
In the bottom of the 4th, Brynn Merchant led things off with a triple for Spencer. The Heelan defense focused on keeping Merchant at 3rd as Jersey Vail reached on a fielder’s choice, and Jasmyn Christensen reached on another infield single via the bunt.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Fitzpatrick tight roped her way out of trouble.
The Crusaders made the Tigers pay for not extending the lead. Erin Fitzpatrick led off the 5th inning with a single and was bunted over to 2nd by Brooke Raymer. Shannon Cleary’s high fly ball fell in to no man’s land, freezing Fitzpatrick till it dropped. Spencer tried throwing out Fitzpatrick at 3rd, but she got unde3r the tag. Cleary advanced up to second forcing an inaccurate throw, which Fitzpatrick capitalized on by moving home and tying the game at 1.
Spencer would get 3 runners in scoring position over the 5th and 6th innings but saw all three stranded by some great clutch pitching by Fitzpatrick.
After allowing the run in the 5th, Vail allowed a leadoff walk in the 6th, but would retire the next six batters she faced, including 4 strikeouts, giving Spencer a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the 7th.
Dakota Lux led off the 7th with a single, and when Mercedes Kreig layed down a bunt to move lux in to scoring position, a Heelan throwing error allowed everyone to be safe. That brought Spencer’s most dangerous bat, Lucy Simington, to the plate with nobody out and two runners on.
The win improves Spencer to 14-2 on the season. Their mid-season gauntlet continues with a strong North Union team coming in to town on Thursday.
Jersey Vail got the win in the circle, throwing 7 innings, allowing 3 hits, one unearned run, walking 3 and striking out 12.
The loss goes to Erin Fitzpatrick despite a strong outing of 6 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, both earned 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts.
Bishop Heelan’s 11-game winning streak is snapped as they fall to 17-5 on the year. The Crusaders get back to Missouri River Conference play on Thursday at home against North of Sioux City.
