SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A late-inning rally powered the Watertown Arrows softball team to an 8-4 win over Sioux Falls Burzlaff, capping off a big day that also featured a 4-4 tie against Tea Area.
In the day’s feature victory, Watertown broke open a 4-4 deadlock in the sixth inning by driving in four unanswered runs. Leah Struckman sparked the rally with a two-RBI single to put the Arrows ahead for good. Maddie Carter followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 7-4, and Macy Ingraham sealed the win by stealing home.
Watertown collected 12 hits in the contest. Struckman led the offense, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs, while Carter went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI. Logan Schell and Takaya Erickson added two hits apiece to round out a dominant team effort at the plate.
Emmy Berglund earned the victory in relief, allowing just two hits and one run over three innings. Ingraham started the contest, surrendering four hits and three runs while striking out two over her three innings of work.
Earlier in the day, Watertown battled Tea Area to a 4-4 draw after time expired.
Watertown struck first in the opening frame on a ground out from Emmy Berglund. Tea Area answered in the second to take a 2-1 advantage before Watertown reclaimed the lead in the fourth. Struckman ripped a triple and Carter drew a bases-loaded walk to score a run each, making it 3-2.
Avery Bauman extended the Arrows’ lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth with an inside-the-park home run. Tea Area responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run single from Brynlee Turek to knot the score at four before the game reached its time limit.
Isabelle Spies, Bauman, Struckman, and Shauna Evenson each recorded a hit for Watertown against Tea Area. Emma Caulfield pitched the first three innings, giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out four. Ingraham provided two innings of relief, allowing two hits and two runs.
Junior Varsity Results
Watertown JV 15, Lennox 0: Chesney Berglund tossed a complete-game shutout, giving up just three hits while striking out nine batters. Sam Fuller collected three hits, and Leah Struckman went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Alcester-Hudson 7, Watertown JV1 4: Ellie Hirsch, Grace DeVries, Sam Fuller, Chesney Berglund, and Leah Struckman each recorded a hit. Hirsch pitched 3.1 innings, striking out eight.
Sioux Falls Bandits 7, Watertown JV2 1: Addisyn Niles and Alanya Caufield led the offense with two hits each. Jordan Evenson pitched a complete game in the circle.
Watertown JV2 13, Base Invaders 13: Sophie Pickrel went 3-for-3 with an RBI at the plate while pitching a complete game. Kelty Gromis drove in three runs, Harper Hlavacek tallied two RBIs, and Autumn Axtell added a pair of hits.
WTNSports.com 