Fort Dodge, Iowa — #11 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley defeated #5 Mount Vernon 7-1 in in the quarterfinal round of Class 3A State Softball in Fort Dodge.
The Nighthawks would jump to a quick 2-0 lead after Cassie Van Beek tripled and that was followed by a rip over the center field wall by Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag for the 2-run shot.
BHRV would add another run in the top of the 2nd. Alexis Mousel would reach on an error and courtesy runner Brianna Kleinwolterink would find home plate later in the inning on an errant throw. After 2 innings of work it was Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley leading 3-0.
Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley would get back on the board in the top of the 5th. With the bases loaded, Keely Swanson would hit into a fielders choice to drive in Taylor Richter to move the score to 4-0.
The bases would again be loaded in the 6th inning for the Nighthawks. Cassie Van Beek would hit a single to third base and beat out the throw to first to drive in Kleinwolterink, making it 5-0 BHRV.
Mount Vernon would get on the board in the 6th inning when Maggie Babcock drove in Sammy Moss with a single to deep center field. Heading into the final inning it was 5-1 Nighthawks.
BHRV would add two more insurance run in the 7th and come away with the 7-1 victory.
Lily Dahlstrom took the loss for Mount Vernon going 7 innings, giving up 10 hits, 2 walks, striking out 4, and adding 5 earned runs to her name.
Van Der Zwaag would get the win for Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley. In 7 innings of work she would give up 5 hits, 5 walks, and strike out 8 and one earned run.
The Nighthawks improve to 26-7 on the year and will face #1 Benton Community (41-2) who defeated Estherville-Lincoln Central 9-0 in the other lower bracket quarterfinals Wednesday night. Game time is set for 1:30 pm on Thursday. The upper bracket semi at 11:30 in the morning will match Davenport Assumption (40-4) and (33-9) Solon (33-9)
Mount Vernon falls to 29-14.
