Alburnett ousts Springville in rubber match, 9-3

ALBURNETT -- Amber Wieland inflicted plenty of pain to go around.Wieland's two-run bloop single in the bottom of the fifth inning put Alburnett ahead for good, and the Pirates went on to score five times in the inning in a 9-3 Class 1A regional quarterfinal softball victory over Springville on Friday."I think we finally cracked down on their pitcher," Wieland said. "We started off kind of slow, but we got more used to her and started getting our timing down."Alburnett (26-12) got the last laugh between the Tri-Rivers Conference co-champions and advanced to Monday's regional semifinal at Lisbon opposite Lone Tree. Game time is 7 p.m."There was a lot of fire in the girls tonight," said Alburnett Coach Marv Porter. "They didn't care if they got beat by somebody else. But they didn't want to get beat by Springville."Porter was suffering from a swollen right wrist, courtesy of a comebacker by Wieland in pre-game batting practice.Wieland's bat was just as dangerous once the game began. The freshman was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and scored twice.Springville (21-12) scored twice in the top of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead, but the Pirates got those runs back. And then some.With one out, Jacqueline Naeve and Cortney Wood hit back-t0-back singles, then Brianna Wieland walked to load the bases.Amber Wieland followed with her blooper down the right-field line that scored two and put Alburnett ahead for good."I just hit it with the tip (of the bat)," she said. "It was kind of scary."Kay Drymon followed with an RBI single, then Jill Sadler hit a two-run double to make it 7-3.Springville threatened to get back in it in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. But a fly ball to center field and a baserunning miscue combined for a double play that got the Pirates out of hot water.Alburnett scored twice more -- the last run on a single by Wieland -- in the sixth to put it away.Wood was 3-for-4 to highlight the winners' 12-hit attack.Abbie Neff had three hits for the Orioles. RBI singles by Jaime Donaldson and Alesea Bednarz put the Orioles in front, 3-2, in the top of the fifth. But Alburnett had a swift, decisive answer.The Pirates struck out nine times against Springville pitcher Karlee Markley before solving her late."We do that all the time," Porter said. "The first time, we don't do much. But the girls are good at making adjustments."

Springville........................000 120 0 -- 3  8  2

Alburnett.........................001 152 x -- 9  12  3

Karlee Markley (L) and Jaime Donaldson. Jacqueline Naeve (W) and Codi Stick.