Springfield 8, Cleveland 5

NORTH MANKATO — After falling 6-5 to New Ulm Cathedral on Saturday in a Section 2A Softball Tournament quarterfinals game at Caswell Park, fourth-seeded Springfield bounced back with an 8-5 elimination bracket over seventh-seeded Cleveland to stay alive in the tourney.

The win over Cleveland moves the Tigers on to a 5 p.m. elimination bracket semifinals game against United South Central at Caswell Park on Tuesday. The winner of that game will play Martin County West at 7 p.m. that same night for a trip to the section finals against Cathedral Thursday.

Brooklyn Sturm was 2 for 4 with an RBI against Cathedral to lead the Tigers, while Jalivia Richert was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and a homer. RIchert also pitched nine innings in the loss and allowed two earned runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out seven. (See ‘Greyhounds run back to finals’ story for Cathedral stats).

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Sleepy Eye’s Taylor Berkner pitches during a Section 2A Softball Tournament game against Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove on Saturday at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

In the win over Cleveland, Emma Hauger led the Tigers at the plate by going 2 for 2 with an RBI and three runs scored. She also drew two walks. Jasmine Novotny was 2 for 4 with two RBIs also for Springfield, while Sturm tripled. Richert got the win in all seven innings, allowing four hits and three walks for no earned runs while fanning two.

Sleepy Eye 8,

RRC/WWG 2

USC 4, Sleepy Eye 1

NORTH MANKATO — Sleepy Eye defeated Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 8-2 on Saturday before falling to United South Central 4-1 in the Section 2A Softball Tournament at Caswell Park.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Madelia’s Payton Bruns tries to leg out an infield single during a Section 2A Softball Tournament game with Cleveland on Saturday at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

The Indians were competing in the elimination bracket and with the loss to USC were eliminated from the playoffs with a final season record of 16-8.

In the win over RRC/WWG, Taylor Berkner led the Sleepy Eye bats, going 3 for 4 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Brissa Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI also for Sleepy Eye, while Katelyn Tauer was 2 for 2 with an RBI and two walks. Berkner also got the complete-game win, allowing two hits and eight walks for no earned runs while striking out 12.

In the loss to USC, Sleepy Eye got two hits on singles by Paige Haala and Tauer. Tauer took the six-inning loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three.

Cleveland 5, Madelia 3

NORTH MANKATO — Cleveland defeated Madelia 5-3 on Saturday morning in the Section 2A Softball Tournament to end the Blackhawks’ season with a 9-14 record.

Lauryn Grev led Madelia at the plate, going 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a double, while Makayla Sorenson was 2 for 3 with a walk. Payton Bruns was 2 for 4 with a double also for Madelia.

Corban Tatro took the loss in six innings, allowing three hits and four walks for one earned run while striking out 10.