Blossoms eek out extra inning thriller

It took two extra innings, but the Blooming Prairie softball team scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning and retired three consecutive Triton batters to beat the Cobras 16-14 on Tuesday, April 20.
The Blossoms got off to a strong start, scoring three runs, including a two-run home run by Maren Forystek, in the top of the first inning to take an early 3-0 lead.
However, the Cobras responded with six runs in the bottom half of the first inning, including a two-run home run and two-run double off Blooming Prairie starter Allison Krohnberg.
After a scoreless top half of the inning, Triton threatened to score multiple runs again in the second inning, but a Cobra runner was called for interfering with Blooming Prairie’s shortstop so the runner was called out for the final out of the inning. Triton did manage to score one run that inning so they took a 7-3 lead into the third inning.
In the third inning, the Blossom’s bats came alive. Lauren Schammel got the scoring going by smacking a two-run single, which trimmed Blooming Prairie’s deficit to two runs, 7-5. Then, Krohnberg smashed a grand slam to give the Blossoms a 9-7 lead.
Unfortunately, the Cobras responded with four runs, a two-run single and two runs scoring a wild pitch, to re-take their two-run lead, this time 11-9.
Later, in the top of the fifth inning, Blooming Prairie answered with its own four-run inning. Krohnberg started it with an RBI double, Forystek followed with an RBI single for her third RBI of the game and Rachel Winzenburg belted a two-run double to give the Blossoms a 13-11 lead.
Triton scored one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Blooming Prairie still led 13-12 at the start of the sixth inning.
The Blossoms maintained that lead until the bottom of the seventh inning when Triton got a lead-off double and then two fielder’s choices scored the runner.
With the score tied at 13-13, the game went into extra innings. In the top of the eighth inning, Bobbie Bruns hit an RBI single to give Blooming Prairie 14-13 lead, but the Cobras also scored one run and the game went into the ninth inning.
In the top of the ninth inning, Krohnberg hit an RBI single and Bruns hit her second consecutive RBI single to extend the Blossoms’ lead to 16-14.
Then, Blooming Prairie stepped up by recording a 1-2-3 inning to close out the game.
The 16-14 win improved the Blossoms’ record to 4-1, but the next day they lost to Hayfield so their record is now 4-2.
Blooming Prairie’s next opportunity to improve its record is when it goes on the road to face 5-0 NRHEG at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Blossoms’ next home game is against United South Central at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 3.
BP hitting stats: Macy Lembke – 2 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks and a stolen base; Bobbie Bruns – 5 hits, 2 runs, stolen base and 3 RBIs; Krohnberg – 3 hits, home run, 5 RBIs, 2 runs, 2 walks and a stolen base; Rachel Winzenbuerg – 1 hit, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Lexi Steckelberg – 1 hit, double and 1 run; Melanie Winzenburg – 2 hits, 2 runs and a walk; Aliva Schnieder – 1 hit, run and a walk; Maren Forystek – 2 hits, home run, 3 RBIs and 3 runs; Lauren Schammel – 1 hit, double, 2 runs, 2 walks and 2 RBIs. BP pitching stats: Allison Krohnberg – 4 strikeouts, 4 walks, 16 hits, 14 runs and 9 earned runs in 9 innings pitched.