Effingham Captures 2021 City Softball Series

Effingham plated six runs in the second inning, then added three runs in the fourth and three more runs in the seventh, pounding out 12 hits.

Emma Hardiek blasted a three-run homer during the six-run uprising in the second. Taylor Armstrong led off the frame with a single. Tori Budde drew a base on balls and Riley Cunningham singled to load the bases. Abby Cunningham came up with a single that scored the first run. Grace Bushur hit a fly ball to left that scored a second run.

Sawyer Althoff got on base on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Jaidi Davis singled home a run then Hardiek followed with a three-run blast before the Bulldogs could get out of the inning with the third out.

The Bulldogs responded with three runs in the third inning, Anna Faber led off the frame withi a double and Cameron Rios followed with a single. Addie Wernsing reached on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Lucy Fearday singled home a run. Sydney Kibler then followed with a single and drove in two and the Bulldogs had pulled within 6-3.

But the Hearts weren't done. In the fourth with one out, Grace Bushur tripled. Althoff reached on an error and Bushur scored. Davis followed with a double scoring Althoff. Hardiek drew a walk and Jacy Boatman followed with a run-scoring single and the Hearts led 9-3.

The Bulldogs scored a run in the fifth when Fearday reached on a fielder's choice after Haley Niebrugge singled. Maddie Kibler followed wth a single, scoring Fearday.

The Hearts pushed across three more in the seventh. R. Cunningham led off the frame with a double and A. Cunningham followed with a single. Bushur then blasted a double that scored both runners.

Davis gave up 12 hits, but just four runs, walked one and struck out four.

Effingham improved to 11-2 on the season, while St. Anthony dropped to 7-4.

Game 3 will be played at 4 p.m. Friday at Effingham High School's softball field. Hear the action on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com 

At Bulldogs Field

Effingham             060    300    2    --    11-12-0

St. Anthony           003    010    0    --     4-12-2

WP -- Davis. LP -- Wernsing.

Effingham -- Bushur, double, triple, 3 RBI; Davis, 2 singles, double, 3 RBI; Hardiek, home run, 3 RBI; Boatman, double, 1 RBI; Armstrong, single; R. Ckuningham, single, double; A. Cuningham, 2 singles, 1 RBI

St. Anthony -- Rios, 2 singles; Niebrugge, 2 singles; Fearday, single, 1 RBI; S. Kibler, 2 singles, 2 RBI; M. Kibler, single, 1 RBI; Karolewicz, single; Faber, 2 singles, double