The Sigourney Savages punched their ticket to a regional final and moved one step closer to state softball by defeating Wapello 2-0 Friday night in the Class 1A Region 8 semifinals. The game was a classic pitcher’s duel, as there was just a combined seven hits between the two teams and the scoring didn’t come until the late stages.

With the game still scoreless in the sixth, Sigourney junior Carly Goodwin reached on a base hit, and freshman Kenzi VanDenHeuvel got on base with a walk. Junior Erin Dawson and senior Courtney Helmsley each found a way to drive in a runner to put the Savages on top, and Goodwin finished off a complete-game shutout in the seventh by holding Wapello scoreless for three more outs.

Goodwin finished with two hits at the plate and allowed only three hits and two walks in the circle while also racking up a whopping 16 strikeouts. Not only did Sigourney win their ninth straight game to get to the Region 8 final, but the eighth-ranked team in 1A has held the opponent scoreless in each of those wins. The Savages improve their record to 25-4 and will face Twin Cedars tonight in a game you can hear on KCII starting at 6:30.