When Sidney Donaldson’s pop fly was misplayed, Raegan Boone raced home with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Effingham Lady Hearts and come-from-behind 5-4 victory at home Tuesday over Mt. Vernon.

The Lady Rams had taken the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Danicah Tobin blasted a three-run homer. But the EHS squad had an answer.

With one out, Saige Althoff singled. She then stole second and came in to score when Boone got her third hit of the day, an RBI triple. One out later, Donaldson hit a pop fly that was turned into a game-ending error, giving EHS the walk-off win.

The Lady Hearts led most of the way. Natalie Armstrong belted a two-run homer in the opening inning to stake the hosts to an early 2-0 advantage. Mt. Vernon scored a run in the top of the fifth, but Effingham countered with a tally in the bottom of the frame. Boone doubled, stole third and then scored on a passed ball.

Althoff pitched all seven innings to get the win. She allowed six hits, while walking two and striking out seven.

The Lady Hearts finished their regular season with a 21-10 record. Their next game will be Tuesday, May 21, when they compete in the Highland Class 3A Regional. Effingham is the No. 3 seed and will face the host Highland team at 4:30 p.m.

The third time with a lead proved to be the charm for the Effingham Lady Hearts.

In Thursday’s first game, Effingham owned a 4-1 advantage, but didn’t score again and ultimately dropped a 5-4 decision in walk-off fashion.

In the nightcap, the Lady Hearts were on top 6-3, but again, couldn’t keep pushing runs across the plate and were defeated 17-7.

But Friday afternoon was a different story.

Effingham held a 7-3 lead early, but this time, continued to add on, scoring seven more runs over the final two innings.

That resulted in a 14-8 victory over the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs in the final game of the annual City Series.

St. Anthony clinched the championship plaque the day before after sweeping the doubleheader.

SAHS scored a run in the opening inning and added two more on a home run by Hailey Niebrugge in the second. But the third inning proved to be a game-changer for the Lady Hearts.

Saige Althoff singled, Raegan Boone reached on an error and Jerzi Bierman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Effingham then pushed four runs across the plate without getting a hit. Sydney Donaldson, Ryley Engel and Madi Kirk each drew bases-loaded walks, and Natalie Armstrong was hit by a pitch, also driving in a run.

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The Effingham Lady Hearts scored six runs over the final three innings Monday, but still came up short at Olney, dropping a 7-6 decision.

The Lady Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the first and added four more in the fifth to build a 7-1 lead.

Effingham pushed a single tally across in the sixth and then put together a strong rally in the seventh.

With one out, Raegan Boone singled for her third hit of the game. Jerzi Bierman followed with another base hit and Sidney Donaldson made it three singles in a row, driving in a run. Natalie Armstrong followed with a blast over the centerfield fence for a three-run homer to get the Lady Hearts within a run.

Mya Harvey then singled, but the final two batters were retired.

Armstrong pitched the first 4.1 innings and took the loss. She gave up seven hits and six runs, while walking two and striking out one. Saige Althoff pitched the rest of the way.

The Lady Hearts dipped to 20-10 on the season. They will play at home today (Tuesday) against Mt. Vernon.

The Effingham Lady Hearts played two games Friday afternoon and came away with a split.

Gieah Schlanser’s two-out RBI single gave the Lady Hearts a walk-off 3-2 win in nine innings over Flora in the first game.

In the nightcap, Pinckneyville broke a tie with a four-run fifth, en route to a 9-4 decision.

The opener was a pitching dual between Effingham Saige Althoff and Flora’s Halle Kitley.

The Lady Wolves took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Lady Hearts tied it up in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Ryley Engel reached on an error and was able to make it to second base. Madi Kirk’s ground ball was then misplayed, allowing Engel to race home with the tying run.

Flora got two of its three hits in the ninth and pushed across the go-ahead run. But once again, the Lady Hearts staged a rally – and once again – after the first two batters had been retired. Mya Harvey doubled and scored when Engel singled. On the throw home, Engel went to second, and then scored when Schlanser delivered the game-winning hit.

Althoff allowed only three hits and two runs, while walking five and striking out six. Kitley gave up five hits and three runs. She didn’t walk a batter, but struck out 18 while throwing 141 pitches.

The second game was tied 4-4 before Pinckneyville pushed four runs across in the fifth to take control.

Effingham scored a single tally in the third. Raegan Boone singled, Jerzi Bierman followed with a double and Boone came home on a ground out by Sidney Donaldson.

After Pinckneyville took a 4-1 lead, the Lady Hearts put together a three-run fourth to tie it. Harvey doubled and Engel and Kirk walked to load the bases. With two outs, Boone delivered an RBI single. The next two runs scored on an error and a wild pitch.

Effingham managed only three walks the rest of the way.

The Lady Hearts are now 19-7. They will return to action Tuesday at Teutopolis.