Effingham took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Grace Bushur drew a lead-off walk and Daelyn Dunston followed with another free pass. Bushur raced home on a wild pitch and Dunston eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Abby Cunningham.

But the Lady Bulldogs responded in a big way, pushing seven runs across the plate. And it started immediately when Cameron Rios led off with a triple that rolled to the rightfield fence. It was her first of five hits in the game. She then scored on a bunt single by Addie Wernsing.

After Hailey Niebrugge doubled, Maddie Kibler belted a 1-0 pitch over the leftfield fence for a three-run homer. It was her second home run in two days. She blasted a grand slam in Thursday’s win.

Sydney Kibler then walked and Anna Faber singled. Grace Karolewicz had an RBI single, and when the throw home got away, Abbi Hatton also scored on a close play at the plate. She collided with EHS pitcher Saige Althoff, who was hurt on the play and forced to leave the game. Cameron Rios capped the seven-run frame with an RBI single.

“Her (Saige) legs got tangled up and the runner’s helmet hit her in the side of the head,” Trigg explained. “We didn’t want to take any chances, so we took her out.”

Bria Beals came on in relief and pitched the remainder of the game for the Lady Hearts.

St. Anthony came right back with a six-run second. Niebrugge and Maddie Kibler both walked and Sydney Kibler delivered an RBI single. After Faber was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Hatton drove in one run with a base hit and Alexis Stephens followed with a single up the middle that brought home two more.

Cameron Rios had an RBI bunt single and the final run of the inning scored on an error, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 13-3 lead.

They added two more runs in the fourth on two base hits and a throwing error that allowed both runners to score and make it 15-3.

But after that, Taylor was not pleased with how her team performed.

“We started off good, but then I thought we got complacent,” she said. “After we built that lead, we just relaxed and thought we were okay. But Effingham is a good squad that makes stuff happen.”

And it started happening in the top of the fifth. After Bushur reached on an error and stole a base, Daelyn Dunston drove her home with a base hit. Cunningham then walked and Sidney Donaldson lined a double down the leftfield line that drove home two. Jennifer Jamison and Beals both drove in runs with ground outs to get the Lady Hearts to within 15-7.

They got even closer in the sixth. With one out, Bushur singled, went to second on an error and to third on a wild pitch. Dunston had another RBI single and then scored on a base hit by Donaldson.

“I was really pleased how we fought back,” Trigg noted. “But I was disappointed we weren’t more heads-up earlier in the game. We didn’t make some plays we typically make and St. Anthony made us look bad at times. But, overall, I think our team has come a long way this season, especially having so many young players.”

 Wernsing pitched the first four innings and got the win for SAHS. She gave up five hits and seven runs, while walking four and striking out four. Lucy Fearday pitched the final three innings.

“This was kind of a weird series,” Taylor said. “Every single game had big numbers put up and that’s normally how this series goes. We definitely need to improve on some things. We especially need to minimize our errors.”

The Lady Hearts dipped to 14-12 on the season. They will play at home Tuesday against Mt. Vernon.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 23-4 and will now play in the postseason. They will face either Fithian (Oakwood) or Marshall at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in a semifinal game of the St. Joseph Regional.

The series finale will be Friday at Bulldog Field and will determine the City Series champion for 2022. Game time is set for 4 p.m.