Laconia had the bases loaded with one out and down by one run in the top of the sixth inning.
St. Mary's Springs pitcher Gracie Konkol struck out the next two batters to preserve the lead on the way to the Ledgers' 7-6 conference win against the Spartans on Monday night at Smith Field.
Konkol also faced traffic during the seventh inning. Laconia got two runners on before the junior pitcher got Kendyl Pluim to ground out to end the game.
"Really it was just about hitting my spots and I just tried really hard," Konkol said. "[My mindset] was to go right at them and make them hit."
Just one of the six runs Konkol gave up were earned, for the Ledgers had five errors in the game.
Konkol also had the big hit for Springs during its five-run second inning. She hit a line drive to left, where Laconia's Lily Schultz laid out and just missed the catch. Konkol chased two of her teammates around the bases for the inside-the-park home run.
"When I saw [the ball] get past her, I was like, 'I'm going home,'" Konkol said. "When I rounded second, I saw the ball was still at the fence so I knew I was going home."
The Ledgers (8-9 overall, 6-5 in Flyway) tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Laconia chose to intentionally walk Konkol, which brought up junior Nevaeh Galligan.
She hit a bloop single to right field, which not only scored a run, but also set up Konkol at third base. Konkol scored on the next pitch, which got past the catcher.
"My last two at-bats before that [the pitches] were all outside and I thought hopefully I could not hit it right to her this time," Galligan said.
The bottom five players in the order for Springs each scored in the win.
The Spartans (11-8, 6-5) cut a four-run deficit to two in the fifth inning when Schultz hit her first of two doubles. The second came to lead of the seventh.
Aubrey Maurer gave Laconia a lead in the top of the second with a home run to center field. Gwen Westphal drove in two runs with a triple in the third.
Springs has won three of its last four games after it suffered a four-game losing streak. Konkol said the team's morale and momentum is in a great spot.
"After our win last week, I really think it boosted our confidence," Konkol said. "Early in the season we beat Poynette, a good team; we beat Monroe, a good team; last week we beat Lomira. It just shows when we play good what kind of team we can be."
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