Markesan holds on to beat Auburndale in WIAA Division 4 softball regional semifinal

AUBURNDALE – The Auburndale softball team’s historic season came to an end Tuesday as the Apaches dropped a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal at home to Markesan 11-8.

Markesan took a 4-1 lead before the Apaches scored three times in the third inning to tie the game.

However, Markesan would score seven unanswered runs from the fifth through the seventh innings to go up 11-4.

Auburndale tried to fight back in its final at-bat, scoring four times before the Hornets were able to finish off the game, and end the Apaches’ season.

Auburndale, which won its first-ever Marawood Conference South Division title as it shared first place with Marathon and Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, finishes the year with a 13-5 record.

Natalie Aue had a double, a home run, and two RBIs, and Alexis Soppe and Abby Koopman each added a pair of RBIs for Auburndale. Mackenzie Raab, Faith Hafermann and Soppe also each had two hits.

Markesan (13-7) moves on to a Division 3 regional final at Stevens Point Pacelli (16-6) on Thursday.

Hornets 11, Apaches 8
Markesan 004 023 2 – 11 11
Auburndale 103 000 4 – 8 12 1
Markesan statistics not provided.
LP: Maggie Willfahrt.
SO: M. Willfahrt (5 inn.) 6, Hailey Grimm (2 inn.) 0. BB: M. Willfahrt 6, Grimm 2.
Top hitters: A, Mackenzie Raab 2×4, 2 runs; Teryn Lau 2 runs; Natalie Aue 2×4, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Grimm 2B; Alexis Soppe 2×4, 2 RBIs; Abby Koopman 1×4, 2 RBIs; Faith Hafermann 2×4.
Records: Markesan 13-7; Auburndale 13-5.