The Effingham Lady Hearts exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning Friday afternoon to rally and post a 12-11 victory at Champaign Central.

Effingham trailed 11-4 after three innings. It got one run in the fourth and then combined eight hits and a walk in the big sixth inning rally.

Jennifer Jamison singled and raced to third on a base hit by Saige Althoff, who scampered to second on the throw to the third. The first run scored on Elena Niebrugge’s ground out. Daelyn Dunston followed with an RBI single and she went to third on a base hit by Grace Bushur.

After Bushur stole second, Riley Cunningham delivered a two-run single and then she stole second and scored on Abby Cunningham’s RBI single. Sidney Donaldson followed with a run-scoring double and Mya Harvey capped the inning with an RBI single.

Champaign Central scored three runs in the first, two in the second and added six more in the third to build an 11-4 lead. But Saige Althoff, who allowed six runs in the third inning, shut the Lady Maroons down the final four innings to get the win.

She came on in relief of Riley Cunningham in the second. She walked five and struck out nine in her six innings of work.

The Lady Hearts banged out 17 hits in the game, with Riley Cunningham, Saige Althoff and Dunston each getting two. Althoff, Dunston and Abby Cunningham each had three RBI.

The Lady Hearts are now 4-6. They will play an Apollo Conference doubleheader today (Saturday) at Mattoon.