HASTINGS — Tori Kniesche has terrorized batters all season long, and she also can give pitchers nightmares as well.
The senior hit two home runs after giving up a leadoff solo shot to help Wayne stay alive in the Class B State Softball Championships with a 6-1 win over Beatrice, forcing a winner-take-all game that should start around 4:30 p.m.
The Lady Orange started with a leadoff homer by Beatrice pitcher Addison Barnard, only to return the favor when Kendall Dorey walked and Kniesche launched a shot to center field to make it 2-1.
In the third, Kniesche hit her second round-tripper of the game and Dorey followed with a three-run blast in the fourth, giving Wayne a 6-1 lead.
Wayne turned to Kniesche’s arm and the pickoff abilities of catcher Hope O’Reilly, who threw out two would-be base stealers to keep Beatrice from mounting a comeback.
Kniesche and Taytum Sweetland each had two hits and Kniesche and Dorey both had three RBI’s for the 34-4 Blue Devils. Kniesche struck out 17 while allowing two hits and five walks.
