Diamonds rally for victory over Waseca

Pitcher Kylee Eckmann tosses the ball to first baseman Clara Ziegler for an out against Waseca.
Kylee Eckmann had three hits in four at bats to help lead the visiting Blue Earth Diamonds to a 7-5 victory over the host Waseca Bluejays in softball action on Thursday, July 6.
The Bluejays took an early lead when Hannah Thursdale doubled to drive in a run in the bottom of the first inning.
Blue Earth scored two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Claire Sullivan and Erika Gaydon each singled to put runners on first and second base. A ground out by Olivia Dutton advanced the runners to second and third base before Kylee Eckmann doubled to center field to score Sullivan and Gaydon and give the Diamonds a 2-1 lead.
Waseca climbed back into the lead in the bottom of the third inning by scoring two runs to go on top 3-2.
The Diamonds tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. Makenzie Benschoter doubled and scored on a single by Berkley Hagedorn.
Once again, Blue Earth could not hold the lead and Waseca pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead heading into the final inning.
The Bluejays recorded one out in the top of the seventh inning before Sullivan was hit by a pitch and Gaydon walked to give the Diamonds two base runners. A double-steal put Sullivan on third base and Gaydon on second. Dutton was out on a ground out to the first baseman but Sullivan scored to make the score 5-4 in favor of Waseca.
Down to their last out, Blue Earth’s Taylor Klabunde lined a double to center field to score Gaydon and tie the game at 5-5.
A single by Eckmann brought home Klabunde with the go-ahead run to give the Diamonds a 6-5 lead.
Blue Earth added another run when Benschoter tripled to left field to drive in Eckmann and put the Diamonds on top 7-5.
Waseca looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning and their lead off batter tripled to get them off to a good start. However, Eckmann struck out the next two batters and then recorded the final out when the Bluejays batter hit a ground ball to Eckmann.
Eckmann went the distance on the mound to pick up the win. She gave up five earned runs on eight hits while walking two batters and striking out nine.
Blue Earth’s batters pounded out 13 hits against Waseca. In addition to Eckmann’s three hits, Gaydon, Klabunde and Benschoter each had two hits. Dutton, Clara Ziegler, Hagedorn and Sullivan each had one hit. Eckmann also led the team with three runs batted in.