Eureka Softball Team Battles Rockwood Summit in Extra Innings

It took the Eureka High School girls' softball team until the fourth inning to make their mark against Rockwood Summit's team Friday after the Falcons jumped out to a 2-0 lead on their own field. In fact, Summit quickly took the lead with 1 run in the first inning of the game.

By the top of the third inning, one of Summit's infielders, Ellie Cooper, hit a double that went to the back of the fence. Summit got another runner in that inning, although there was a close throw to third base that the umpire ended up calling safe; however the runner was left on third eventually.

Eureka's shortstop Jamie Fowle came out to change the game in the fourth inning, starting a rally by smacking a solid double. First baseman Jenny Weiss followed suit by also hitting a double, enabling Fowle to score. Weiss was later called out by the home plate umpire, due to leading off too early from second base, giving doubt to Eureka's chances of quickly tying the score.

Eureka's Allie Craft got a break, however, when her pop fly was dropped by a Summit player. Then Eureka's third baseman Samantha Witte got a single, loading up the bases.

Eureka pitcher Jessica Andrew kept the singles going and kept the bases loaded. Eureka's catcher Syd Tockman was next up, got a single and the Wildcats scored.

At the top of the fourth inning, Eureka's Alana Hester popped out, but enabled a teammate to score.

At this point, the Wildcat players and fans were chanting plenty of E-U-R -- E-K-A cheers. It was Eureka 4-Summit 2.

Summit's players decided to apply pressure during the fifth inning. Talisa Morton hit a triple, enabling two runners to score. It was a tied ballgame.

The sixth inning was quick and uneventful for both teams. However, Eureka changed pitchers from Andrew to Maddie Krumrey, who achieved a couple of strike outs.

During the seventh inning, Fowle hit a hard line drive that passed third base, and she pushed her running to second base. Weiss popped out. Craft hit a long ball. But Fowle was called out at the home plate, dashing Eureka's chance to lead the game.

Eureka's Kelsey Tepen made a solid hit in the eighth inning, but Summit's Megan Bedenikovic made an excellent over-the-back catch for an out. Krumrey hit a single. Tockman made a long fly out to the centerfield. Hester got on, putting two Eureka runners on base. Jessica Poore hit a single, which allowed Eureka to score. Fowle hit another, enabling Eureka to count two more runs.

Summit answered by getting runners on first and second base, but the last two Summit batters bunted out and struck out, ending the game with Eureka 7, Summit 4.

Eureka starts District Tournament games Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. by playing Pacific High School at .