The Audubon Wheeler softball team had a walk off 4-3 victory against the West Monona Spartans in the Class 2A State Quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon. The ball game started off in a grid lock for both sides as starting pitchers Riley Miller and Abby Hiatt looked dialed in. Through the first two innings neither team could create a hit and both sides combined for a total of 5 strikeouts. The momentum finally shifted for Audubon in the bottom of the third inning with one out and an error thrown at first to put the go ahead run on. The next batter up for the Wheelers struck out, adding on even more pressure for Taryn Petersen who hit a single right up center field putting two runners on.

Jordan Porsch was next up to hit and she drove a deep hit out past center field nearly escaping the fence and bringing in two runs making it a 2-0 lead for Audubon. Two batters later, Alexis Obermeier cleanly hit an RBI single out in right field to solidify the Wheelers lead at 3-0. The Spartans responded in the top of the fourth inning with one run scoring from a Abby Hiatt sac fly and another by a Carly Stangel bunt. Suddenly making it a 3-2 ball game.

The score would remain the same in a state of tug of war till the top of the seventh where West Monona tied the game via RBI single by McKenna Baker out in right field with a 3-3 score. The Wheelers started the bottom of the seventh with a Mattie Nielsen base hit. Taryn Petersen was then called out on runners’ interference and Jordan Porsch hit a line fly deep into center field for out number two. Miller then waited on a 3-1 count to hit the walk off single into center field bringing Nielsen home and sending Audubon to the next round with the final score of 4-3.

Miller had another efficient from inside the circle pitching 7 innings, giving up 3 earned runs, 4 hits, and 6 strikeouts. Audubon’s Porsch had a good day at the plate going 1-4, with a double and 2 RBI’s. Looking back on the walk off hit, Miller knew as soon as she hit the ball that the Wheelers had the win.

Nielsen explained her thought process with Miller’s hit.

The Spartans saw good production from starting pitcher Hiatt going 7 innings, with 4 earned runs, 7 hits, and 8 strikeouts. West Monona’s best batter on the day was McKenna Baker with a 1-3 performance and one RBI. The competitive matchup brought in a unique atmosphere and Audubon head coach Andrea Schwery complimented her team’s ability to stay calm in a back-and-forth game.

Coach Schwery respected the way her team handled the raucous atmosphere of the State Tournament.

Audubon’s next game will be on Wednesday evening against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont. The Rockets are coming off an upset 6-1 win against the Northeast Rebels. Nielsen has confidence in her team as long as they don’t become complacent.

First pitch for the Audubon and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont semifinal matchup is set for 5:15pm.