Jackson County Central will play in the third-place game of the state Class 2A softball tournament after splitting a pair of games Wednesday at Caswell Park in North Mankato.
The seventh-seeded Huskies opened the tournament with a 10-0 win in five innings over second-seeded Saint Agnes and then lost 2-1 in eight innings to sixth-seeded Hawley.
In the quarterfinals, Hadley Wachal allowed one hit in five innings for the 91st one-hitter in state tournament history.
She was within one out of a no-hitter. Hadley walked the leadoff batter in each of the first two innings and then allowed an infield single with two out in the fifth.
JCC used its typically aggressive approach on the basepaths to parlay four hits, two walks, one error, two wild pitches, three stolen bases and a sacrifice into a seven-run first inning. Jackson County Central added one run in the second and two in the fifth to end the game early by the 10-run rule.
Brielle Tufvesson had two hits, and three runs batted in for the Huskies. Also getting hits were Cora Pauling, Hadley Wachal and Lauren Johnson.
Angela Proper took the loss for Saint Agnes as she went five innings, allowing 10 runs (six earned) on five hits, walking two and striking out seven. Giana Regep had the lone hit for the Aggies.
In the semifinals the Huskies scored in the top of the first when Cora Pauling singled with one out, stole second and scored a single by Mady Wachal. That was the only run they would score against Haley junior pitcher Eagan Hastings.
The Nuggets tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. After the first two batters were out, Hawley used back-to-back walks and a single to score.
There was no more scoring until the bottom of the 11th when Hawley used a leadoff walk, a sacrifice and a single to score the winning run.
Hastings went the distance to record her second win of the day in the pitching circle. In 11 innings vs. the Huskies she gave up one run on nine hits, walked two and struck out 11.
She also had a complete game in the Nuggets’ 3-1 quarterfinal win over Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial. Her totals for the day had her going 18 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on 14 hits, walking five and fanning 16.
Hadley Wachal pitched the first three innings for JCC vs. Hawley, allowing one run on two hits, walking one and striking out six. Mady Wachal went 7.1 innings, giving up one run on five hits, walking eight and striking out nine.
Pauling had three hits and Brielle Tufvesson for the Huskies. Miley VanDeVere had a double. Also getting one apiece were Mady Wachal, Braelyn Boogerd and Jessica Dvorak.
Jackson County Central, 23-5, will face Randolph (24-2) in the third-place game at 1 p.m. Thursday at Caswell.
Hawley (27-2) meets St. Cloud Cathedral (25-2) in the state championship game at 4 p.m. Friday at Jane Sage Cowells Stadium at the University of Minnesota.
Here are results and schedules for each class.
Class 2A
Wednesday, June 4
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Quarterfinals
Randolph 9, Esko 1
St. Cloud Cathedral 4, Spectrum 2
Jackson County Central 10, Saint Agnes 0 (5 innings)
Hawley 3, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 1
Semifinals
St. Cloud Cathedral 8, Randolph 6
Hawley 2, Jackson County Central 1 (11 innings)
Consolation semifinals
Spectrum 5, Esko 1
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 6, Saint Agnes 3
Thursday, June 5
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Third place
Randolph (24-2) vs. Jackson County Central (23-5), 1 p.m., Field 3
Consolation championship
Spectrum (21-1) vs. Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial (24-3), 11 a.m., Field 3
Friday, June 6
At Jane Sage Cowells Stadium
Championship
St. Cloud Cathedral (25-2) vs. Hawley (27-2), 4 p.m.
Class 1A
Wednesday, June 4
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Quarterfinals
United South Central 12, Blackduck 0 (5 innings)
Braham 3, Wabasso 2
Bethlehem Academy 7, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 2
Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 10, Moose Lake/Willow River 3
Semifinals
United South Central 6, Braham 0
Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 1, Bethlehem Academy 0
Consolation semifinals
Blackduck 7, Wabasso 4
Clinton-Gracevillle-Beardsley 11, Moose Lake/Willow River 10
Thursday, June 5
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Third place
Braham (23-3) vs. Bethlehem Academy (17-5), 1:30 p.m., Field 4
Consolation championship
Blackduck (23-4) vs. Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (24-2), 11:30 a.m., Field 4
Friday, June 6
At Jane Sage Cowells Stadium
Championship
United South Central (25-1) vs. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (2-6), 6:30 p.m.
Class 3A
Wednesday, June 4
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Quarterfinals
Mankato East 4, Simley 1
Rocori 2, Becker 1 (14 innings)
Chisago Lakes 13, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 3 (5 innings)
Byron 4, Cretin-Derham Hall 3
Semifinals
Rocori 2, Mankato East 0
Byron 6, Chisago Lakes 3
Consolation semifinals
Becker 3, Simley 0
Cretin-Derham Hall 6, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 3
Thursday, June 5
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Third place
Mankato East (21-5) vs. Chisago Lakes (20-5), 12:30 p.m., Field 2
Consolation championship
Becker (17-10) vs. Cretin-Derham Hall (14-12), 10:30 a.m., Field 2
Friday, June 6
At Jane Sage Cowells Stadium
Championship
Rocori (19-5) vs. Byron (17-6), 11:30 a.m.
Class 4A
Wednesday, June 4
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Quarterfinals
Forest Lake 6, Edina 4
Bloomington Jefferson 2, Brainerd 1
Champlin Park 5, Eagan 0
White Bear Lake Area 3, Farmington 1
Semifinals
Bloomington Jefferson 3, Forest Lake 2
Champlin Park 3, White Bear Lake Area 2
Consolation semifinals
Edina 1, Brainerd 0 (9 innings)
Farmington 6, Eagan 1
Thursday, June 5
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Third place
Forest Lake (23-2) vs. White Bear Lake Area (19-7), 12 p.m., Field 1
Consolation championship
Edina (16-10) vs. Farmington (23-3), 10 a.m., Field 1
Friday, June 6
At Jane Sage Cowells Stadium
Championship
Bloomington Jefferson (25-2) vs. Champlin Park (23-2), 9 a.m.