Staff photo by Jeremy Behnke Springfield shortstop Tori Helget throws to first base during Thursday’s Section 2A title game at ISG Field in Mankato.

MANKATO — It took a little longer than they wanted, but Springfield advanced to the state baseball tournament for the first time since 2016 after the Tigers defeated BOLD in the second game of the Section 2A finals, 4-1.

Jakob Nachreiner earned the win in the decisive game, pitching five innings and allowing five hits. He struck out five and walked two.

BOLD won the first game 5-0 to force the second game. BOLD grabbed an early lead in the second game, but the Tigers didn’t panic.

BOLD’s first run in the second game came after Aidan Elfering’s RBI single scored Avery Herding in the bottom of the first.

Springfield had a chance to even the score in the second inning, but Jason Berberich was thrown out at the plate for the final out.

The Tigers scored three times in the third inning, with two runs coming in when Mason Leonard singled to score Dylan Batzlaff and Tori Helget to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Brendon Buerkle later scored on Kyle Quesenbery’s single to make it 3-1.

The Warriors stranded two runners in the second after Zeke Walton grounded into a double play with runners on first and third. The Warriors also left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, but Nachreiner got Walton to fly out to end the threat.

The Tigers did add another run in the seventh inning when Batzlaff scored on an RBI scored.

Leonard and Berberich each had two hits in the second game for teh Tigers and Leonard also had two RBIs.

Leonard took the loss in the first game. He went five innings and allowed two runs and four walks. He struck out five.

BOLD scored a single run in the third and fifth innings, then added two more runs in the sixth inning. The Warriors added another run in the seventh inning to close out the scoring.

Elfering allowed just two hits in the first game and he struck out 12 for the win.

Springfield will await state tournament seedings on Saturday to see which team the Tigers will play on Tuesday for the state tournament.