NORTH MANKATO — New Ulm shortstop Carli Botten had struggled most of the day on Thursday, collecting a single in the Eagles’ 4-2 Section 2AAA quarterfinal win over Hutchinson before going hitless in her first three at-bats in the semifinals against Mankato West.

But Botten was due, delivering a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to send New Ulm to Saturday’s play still unbeaten. New Ulm defeated West 3-2 after Botten came to the plate with the bases loaded. The junior delivered and the Eagles will face Faribault at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Caswell Park.

Tied at 1-1 after seven innings, Mankato West took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth inning before the Eagles loaded the bases for Botten. The win improves New Ulm’s record to 17-3 overall and it will play the No. 1 seed for the right to advance to the Section 2AAA finals.

Ashlyn Donner went the distance to earn the win in both games.

Earlier in the day, New Ulm advanced with a 4-2 victory against Hutchinson. The Eagles scored four runs in the fifth inning after trailing 2-0.

Joey Batt had four hits, including a two-out double in the fifth that scored New Ulm’s first run. The double ignited the Eagles’ offense against Hutchinson starter Grace Penke.

Hutchinson scored a single run in both the fourth and fifth inning to take the 2-0 lead off Donner. Hutchinson wasn’t hitting the ball hard, but the Tigers found a couple of openings and that led to a couple of runs.

“It was frustrating because it was getting close to the end of the game, but then [head coach Kristi Andersen Loose] Kristi told us that we need to not pay attention to the scoreboard and just pay attention to hitting,” Batt said.

That advice paid off when the Eagles got a two-out triple from Batt that scored Mariah Piotter to make it 2-1. Batt, Botten and Kayla Brudelie later scored for the Eagles that inning to give them a lead they would not relinquish.

Noelle Forstner scored New Ulm’s first run in the second inning of Game 2 against West. Abby Lee and Ashley Mehlhop both reached and Batt was intentionally walked to load the bases before Botten’s game-winner.