Seventh-inning errors doom Mater Dei in softball sectional

A pair of unearned, walk-off runs doomed Mater Dei in the semifinals of the Flora 1A Sectional softball tournament Tuesday.

Casey-Westfield earned advancement to the championship game with a 2-1 win over the Knights.

Mater Dei sophomore pitcher Hayley Palm allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out four. She had a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the seventh when Casey loaded the bases on a bunt hit and two errors. A two-run single to end the game followed.

“Hayley pitched extremely well, probably the best she has all year,” said Mater Dei head coach Ron Schadegg. “She gave us a great opportunity to advance, but you’ve got to make plays this time of year and we just didn’t do that.”

Kelsey Gerdes had the only RBI for Mater Dei, a first-inning single that scored A.J. Hallemann

Mater Dei’s season ends at 20-11, despite an 8-8 start. The Knights had won 11 of 13 games, including the Central Regional championship, headed into Tuesday’s sectional game.

“We won a regional and experienced some success, so there’s nothing to be ashamed off,” Schadegg said. “We lose four four-year starters — a good group of seniors — but have a heck of a group coming back. Things are good for Mater Dei softball, we just didn’t have a good one today.”

This story was originally published May 23, 2017 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Seventh-inning errors doom Mater Dei in softball sectional."