HASTINGS — The Wayne High softball team lost a heartbreaker Thursday in the semifinals of the Class B State Softball Championships, dropping a 1-0 decision to Beatrice at Smith Softball Complex.
The Lady Orange used back-to-back infield doubles in the bottom of the sixth to push the game’s only run across, ending Wayne’s 27-game winning streak and moving them into Friday’s 11:30 a.m. elimination game against Seward, who came from behind to eliminate Omaha Skutt 4-2 on Thursday.
Aliah Schulz had two of Wayne’s five hits in the losing effort, with Kendall Dorey, Tori Kniesche and Kayla Fleming also adding singles.
Kniesche pitched well in a losing effort, striking out 16 and walking two while allowing three hits for the 32-4 Blue Devils.
The winner of Friday's Wayne-Seward matchup will need to win two against Beatrice to claim the state title. Beatrice takes on the winner at 2 p.m., with an "if needed" game to follow 30 minutes after the completion of that first game.
