As the Lyle/Pacelli softball team was in the process of surrendering five seventh inning runs to Randolph, it began to look eerily similar to their collapse earlier Saturday against Blooming Prairie. Fortunately, Rebecca Mino drove in her fifth run of the day with bases-loaded single in the bottom of the inning to keep L/P's postseason hopes alive.

"We just can't take innings off," said L/P head coach Missy Blaser, whose three sub-section opponents have scored 12 of their 13 runs in just three innings.

"We're still here though, now it'll come down to whoever wants it more."

In the semifinals of the Sub-Section 1A softball tournament, L/P jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Blooming Prairie in typical fashion by drawing walks, forcing errors with aggressive baserunning, and getting timely hits from the top of the order.

Louise Mudra plated the first run by reaching on an error, stealing a base, advancing to third on a wild pitch, and scoring on a fielder's choice groundout by Mino.

Mino also ripped an RBI-double in the third that scored Kate Boisjolie, who had reached on a two-out walk.

L/P scored two more in a wild fourth inning. After a one-out walk to Nicki Svoboda, a wild pitch plated Kelsey Sampson, who had led off with a base hit. Melissa Rosenberger then grounded it back to BP starter Emily Wencl, who uncorked a wild throw to third that scored Svoboda.

The inning continued with BP shortstop Andrea Miller throwing home on a Carmen Buntje grounder to cut down what seemed like an insignificant run at the time, what with L/P holding a 4-0 lead.

The play at the plate seemed to jumpstart the Blossoms, who had had only one hit off L/P starter Mudra through the first three innings. Hilary Jones got it started by reaching on a two-base throwing error. After a Mindy Johnson single, Mino scooped up a Kari Peterson bunt but proceeded to hit her with the throw as she was headed to first, allowing Jones to score the first BP run.

"The last two weeks have given them confidence that they can come back," said BP head coach Chad Gimbel, "and they were able to focus and get their intensity going once we got down."

Mudra then issued consecutive walks to Angela Noble and Miller, the second of which forced in another run. Rachel Long delivered the big hit of the inning by ripping a double past Sampson at third to knot the game at 4-all.

BP's Wencl settled down for the last three innings, surrendering only a pair of two-out singles.

"Once we got back in the game, I think it relaxed her a bit," Gimbel said.

The Blossoms carried the momentum swing into the seventh as Long singled and Amber Vogt walked with one out. Blaser then elected to intentionally walk Amanda Schlund to load the bases. It didn't help though as Hilary Jones came through with a solid single to right to close out L/P.

"I had a similar hit against NRHEG," Jones said of her game-winner, "but I was still very nervous up there, I was even shaking a little."

BP's Rachel Long went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot, scoring the winning run and doubling to drive in two. Jones also scored a run to go along with her clutch RBI.

Wencl recovered from a shaky start to post a six-hit complete game victory. She allowed one earned run and struck out three while walking three.

For L/P, Mudra went 2-4 with a run and two steals. Carmen Smith was 1-1 with a walk and a sacrifice, while Mino doubled and drove in two.

Mudra allowed just two earned runs and five hits over her seven innings of work. She also struck out five and walked three.

The Blossoms advance to face Southland Wednesday at 4:30 at Todd Park. The Rebels defeated BP 6-1 at the Hayfield Invitational in their only meeting this year.

Rebounding against Randolph

L/P shook off the tough loss by getting off to another fast start against Randolph, scoring four runs in the first two innings on only one hit. L/P extended it to 4-0 off a walk from Randolph starter Jenny Harris and two Rocket errors in the second.

Mudra manufactured another run in the fifth, drawing a one-out walk, stealing two bases, and coming home on a Mino single.

As in their first game, L/P had a chance to add yet another insurance run when Kelsey Sampson led off the sixth with a walk. After a groundout and wild pitch, Sampson came home on a Nicki Svoboda fly to left, but was tagged out at the plate to end the inning.

Randolph's best threat of the first six innings came in the third. Two singles and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position with two out, but Mudra doused the rally by fanning Amy Gilbertson.

Mudra had allowed only five hits and enjoyed a 5-0 lead going into the final frame, where she was hurt by some miscues from her defense, which had played error-free ball up to that point.

Mudra got the first out but hit the next batter. A single and a walk loaded the bases for Cassie Ott, who singled to get Randolph on the board. The Rockets got two more runs off of an error and another base hit. The second L/P error of the inning brought home the tying runs and provoked memories of L/P's earlier collapse against Blooming Prairie.

Lyle/Pacelli was equal to the challenge however. They got a runner on with one out when Buntje was hit by a pitch. Mudra followed with a bunt single and Boisjolie walked to fill the bases for Mino, who delivered yet again -- as she has all year -- with a base hit to win it.

"When Rebecca's up and people are on base, you feel pretty safe," said L/P head coach Missy Blaser.

"We knew we could get the lead back," Mino said of L/P's mindset after the Randolph comeback.

Mudra was 2-3 with two runs scored, while Mino went 2-3 with three more RBIs. The two of them accounted for all four L/P hits on the afternoon.

Pitching-wise, Mudra fired another complete game, striking out seven and allowing three earned runs. She and the rest of the team get a much-needed break before returning to Todd Park Wednesday for a 4:30 rematch with Goodhue, who they dispatched 8-3 in the first round.

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