Bowler rallies past Oneida Nation

Despite a warm and sunny afternoon, the Bowler softball team could not seem to get its bats heated up through the first four innings of a Division 5 regional opener against Oneida Nation.

The seventh-seeded Panthers turned things around at just the right time, scoring all seven of its runs over the final three innings to earn a 7-6 walk-off win over the 10th-seeded Thunderhawks in Bowler on Tuesday.

The reason behind the Panthers slow start at the plate was Thunderhawks’ starting pitcher Tiara Barber, who did not allow a run over the first four innings.

Bowler was able to put a pair of runs on the scoreboard in the fifth inning, but still trailed 4-2. After the visitors tacked on two more runs in the sixth, the Panthers answered with two runs of their own to again cut the deficit to two.

After Jada Waters shut down the Thunderhawks in the top of the seventh, the Panthers quickly tied the game in the bottom half of the frame before Hannah Slater scored the game-winning run on an error on a ball hit down the left field line.

Waters pitched well enough to keep the Panthers in the game. Waters surrendered six runs, only four of which were earned, on six hits over seven innings. She struck out four batters to overcome six walks.

The Panthers two runs in the fifth inning came on back-to-back walks by Alyssa Strassburg and Waters with the bases-loaded. Reanne Kietlinski and Maranda Brei both crossed home plate.

In the sixth, Brei was hit by a pitch with the bases-loaded to score Ireland Deroos. Jodi Wolf drove in another run on a sacrifice fly, scoring Tynea Johnson.

Brooke Thiex drove home Strassburg on a sacrifice fly before Johnson walked with the bases-loaded to bring home Waters to tie the game in the seventh. Kietlinski then hit a one-out looper down the left field line that was dropped by Oneida Nation left fielder Yanet Torres, allowing Slater to score for the Panthers.

Tiara Barber worked the first 4 2/3 innings for the visitors, allowing just the two runs in the fifth. Mariah Barber came on in relief, stranding the bases-loaded to end the Panthers’ scoring threat before working into the seventh inning. Mercedes Ackley was the final Oneida Nation pitcher to throw in the game, allowing four walks while only getting one out.

“When we got runners on tonight, we just couldn’t push them around in the first four innings,” Bowler coach Tim Ploeger said. “I was a little surprised that they switched pitchers a couple of times. They struggled to get the ball over the plate near the end of the game and walks equal runs in my experience.”

“I’m glad that we fought through it (the slow start at the plate),” Brei said. “We didn’t give up at any point of the game.”

Because the team kept fighting, Bowler and its seniors are guaranteed at least one more game.

“It’s really exciting for the team, especially us seniors to know we get to play at least one more game,” Brei said.

Bowler will travel to take on the second-seeded Saint Thomas Aquinas/Lena co-op on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the regional title game on Friday.