Softball: Wausau West uses big 6th inning to rally past Wausau East

For the second time this season it was a tight Wisconsin Valley Conference match up between city rivals Wausau West and Wausau East. For the second time it was Wausau West finding a late rally for the win. After trailing 2-0 heading into the 5th, the Warriors scored twice in that inning and 8 more in the 6th beat the Lumberjacks 10-2.

Wausau East jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning when Kaylen Majewski led off with a walk and scored on a double by Carlie Kluz. The Lumberjacks extended their lead to 2-0 in the 4th when Kluz led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a groundout by Addy Steinke.

The Warriors finally got the offense going in the 5th when Jenna Graveen started the inning with a single. Brooklyn Freiberg then reached on an error with Graveen advancing to third. Jaidyn Calmes then put West on the board with an RBI single that scored Graveen to make it 2-1. Freiberg then would tie the game at 2 when she stole home.

West would blow the game open in the 6th with 8 runs. It was still 2-2 when Kaitlyn Butler came to the plate with the bases loaded and she would clear the bases on an inside the park home run on a shot to right field to give West their first lead at 6-2. West would score two more runs in the inning, including one on an RBI double by Breanne Bushong.

The Warriors got good pitching from both starter Nora Hintz and reliever Butler. Hintz went the first 4 allowing 2 runs on just two hits while striking out 3. Butler went the final 3 and allowed just one hit while striking out 8. Jaidyn Oelke, Jenna Graveen and Jaidyn Calmes each had two hits for West. Carlie Kluz was 2 of 3 at the plate with an RBI for East while Adriana Bodner had the other Lumberjack hit.

East returns to action Friday at Northland Pines while West will travel to Antigo for a non-conference game that will air live on the Wausau Area Sports YouTube channel starting with the pregame at 4:15 pm and the first pitch at 4:30.