Spencer, Ia (Northwest Iowa Now) – The Spencer Softball team came into a Tuesday night matchup against Mason City after dropping 3 straight games.

The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the second inning.  With 1 out, Jersey Vail doubled and was courtesy ran for by Emersyn Scharnberg.  Jasmyn Christensen would single into shallow centerfield, and although she was thrown out trying to extend her hit into a double, the drawn through gave Scharnberg more than enough room to score, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Mason City would respond by getting the first 5 batters of the top of the 3rd inning on base.  Jaydn Shinn walked and Lexi Payne reached on an error.  The Riverhawks’ leader in RBI, Brogan Evans, added another one with an RBI double to bring in Shinn.  Spencer starting pitcher Jersey Vail walked Daelyn Genzler to load the bases back up for the Junior Cather Pyper Koch.

Mason City starting pitcher Madalyn Chose was able to retire the next 6 Spencer batters after the Riverhawks 3-spot in the 3rd.  Vail would bounce back from that frame by holding Mason City in check for the next three innings, including retiring 8 in a row with 4 strikeouts at one point.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the 5th, Jasmyn Christensen got the offense started again for Spencer with a double.  Madi Steven followed that up with a bunt to move Christensen over, but there was a throwing error, bringing the Tiger Senior across the plate to make the score 3-2.

The Riverhawks were quick to respond again.  Brogan Evans reached on an error, then back-to-back Mason City singles loaded the bases for Kylie Johnson who put together an outstanding at bat to walk in Evans, extending the Riverhawk lead back to 2.

With their backs against the wall in the bottom of the 7th inning, the back side of the Spencer lineup came through.  Jill Kabrick drew a four-pitch walk, and 8th grader Kelsi Sonius in her 3rd start of the season came up to knock her in.

That turned the order around to the leadoff hitter Dakota Lux, who singled to tie the game at 4.

Despite two on with only one out, Madalyn Chose managed to force a couple of dangerous Tiger bats in Brynn Merchant and Vail to fly out, bringing the game in to extra-innings.

Vail and the Spencer defense retired the Mason City half of the 8th in order.  Christensen led off the bottom of the 8th inning with a walk, her fourth trip on to the bags in as many plate appearances on the night.

Mason City coach Alisha Kimball opted to make a pitching change to Freshman Lexi Payne, who after allowing a Madi Steven single, got a big strikeout of Jill Kabrick to make it 1 out with runners on first and second.  Sonius would come up for Spencer and create enough chaos to give the Tigers the walkoff win.

Spencer improves to 15-5 on the season with their second walk-off win in the last week and prepare for a massive game at home Thursday night against Storm Lake with a chance to force a shared Lakes Conference Championship between the two rivals.

Box Score     R   H   E   LOB

Mason City   4    8   3     10

Spencer         5    8   3      7

WP: Jersey Vail 8IP 8H 4R(3ER) 4BB 11K

LP: Madalyn Chose 7IP 7H 5R(3ER) 4BB 3K

Jasmyn Christensen (Spn) 3-3 3H 2B 2R BB

Brogan Evans (MC) 2-4 2H 2B 2R RBI ROE

Madi Steven (Spn) 2-3 2H 1BB 1ROE