HASTINGS — After an emotionally- and physically-draining 10-inning win, Wayne had nothing left in the tank for the Seward Bluejays.
Seward took advantage of a number of Wayne mistakes to put five runs across in the fourth inning and eliminated the Blue Devils from the Class B State Softball Championships with an 8-0 defeat Thursday afternoon at the Smith Softball Complex.
Wayne had to play Seward shortly after an exciting 4-3 10-inning win over top-seeded Elkhorn South, and simply didn’t have anything left against a Seward team that was playing its first game of the day after going 1-1 in Wednesday’s opening round.
The Blue Devils’ best chance to score came in the third when Josie Thompson walked and Masyn Dorey singled, but the threat ended on a 6-5-4 double play.
Seward scored two runs in the fourth inning to break the scoreless tie, then took advantage of two fielding errors and five hits, all coming with two out, to plate five runs and take control of the game. The game ended in the sixth on a wild pitch, giving Seward the win on the eight-run rule.
Dorey had two of Wayne’s four hits in the game, while Jenna Trenhaile and Annie Kniesche added singles. Tori Kniesche struck out nine and walked two in a losing effort, allowing five hits and only one earned run.
Wayne ends the season with a 29-5 record.
