The Sigourney Savages gave everything they had, but they came up just short in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel to North Linn last night in the Class 1A softball state quarterfinals. The game was scoreless all the way through the regulation seven innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, North Linn’s lead-off hitter reached second base on a throwing error by Sigourney. The Savages were able to hold the runner at third while getting the first two outs of the inning, but a ground ball by Lynx second baseman Mackenzie Bridgewater was hit hard enough that Macy Fisch could not get a throw off to first, resulting in an infield single that drove in the walk-off winner.

Despite the loss, junior pitcher Carly Goodwin put together another spectacular performance in the circle. Goodwin allowed just four hits in seven-and-two-thirds innings, giving up no earned runs and racking up 12 strikeouts. Senior Courtney Hemsley, sophomore Ava Fisch and juniors Ava Fineran and Kenzi VanDenHeuvel had one hit each as the Savages fall to 26-5.

Sigourney will conclude the 2023 softball season by facing Southeast Warren in a 1A consolation game this afternoon in Fort Dodge. You can hear full coverage of the Savages taking on the Warhawks beginning with the pregame show at 2:30 on all KCII stations and streaming on KCIIradio.com.