The Rainier softball team won a thrilling non-league clash against the defending District 4 2B champion Raymond-South Bend Thursday, escaping South Bend with a 10-9 victory.
Rainier jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning via a two-run single by Gracie Lantz and RBIs by Peyton Tsagris and Ellie Pringle. RSB crushed a solo home run as part of a two-run first inning to cut the deficit in half, and Ryleigh Cruse padded the Mountaineers’ lead with an RBI double in the second.
The Ravens stormed in front in the third with four runs before Cruse and Khloe Arden pushed Rainier ahead with another two runs in the fourth. Cruse stayed hot at the plate in the fifth, as she reached on an error to score a run, and Layla Hill came around to score on a wild pitch that gave Rainier a 9-6 lead.
Cruse allowed another solo homer in the fifth, and she once again gave herself a cushion with an RBI single in the seventh. RSB put pressure on the veteran right-handed as she looked to close out the game in the seventh. The Ravens hit their third home run of the game with one out in the frame, and an RBI single made it a one-run ballgame.
With the tying run at first base, Rainier turned a game-ending double play to secure the victory.
Cruse finished 4 of 5 at the plate with three RBIs while pitching a complete game, and Hill scored four times and recorded three hits.
Rainier (8-7, 4-2 Central 2B League) will visit Napavine (14-2, 5-1 C2BL) Monday to start the final week of the regular season.
