Down by a single tally, the Volunteers scored two runs off starter Geri Whitman in the top of the third inning to take the lead. Hanna Brindisi and Celci Mueller walked to start the frame. Lara Runge then banged one off the fence in center, but Jenna Cochran, pinchrunning for Brindisi, went back to tag at second and got a late start. A perfect relay throw home nipped Cochran at the plate for the first out. Mueller advanced to third on the play.
Nicole Cheek then grounded to short. The throw home in an attempt to get Mueller was in the dirt and got away from the catcher, allowing Mueller to score the tying run. Runge also came around to score on the play.
The Vols moved ahead 3-1 in the fourth when Ragan Dunn singled, stole second and scored on Lara Runge's single. Logan had a chance to blow the game wide open the next inning, but Tiffany Pinnick lined into a double play with two runners on base.
The Lakers pulled to within one at 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth in a most peculiar fashion. Aubrey Frank doubled. Amber Hane was inserted as a pinchrunner. She came in to score when Kaitlyn Reiff's infield grounder was fielded by Vols' second baseman Nicole Cheek and her throw ricocheted off the base umpire. No obstruction was called.Logan got some breathing room in the seventh when Rachelle Runge doubled and scored on Pinnick's RBI single on a 3-0 count.
Sophomore righthander Chelsea Wallace committed a one-out throwing error in the bottom of the seventh, but the veteran hurler pitched around the miscue to pick up her 15th win of the spring against only four losses.
"We were able to take advantage of some bobbles that they made in the third inning that led to a couple of runs and then scored a couple on our own and that was enough to get it done with Chelsea's pitching," said Vols head coach Bruce Jilek.
Wallace surrendered six hits and only one earned run while striking out four and walking none. Wallace, who transferred to Logan this past summer, said she was just happy to be a part of softball history for the Vols."It was really exciting. I'm glad I got the ball and was able to help the team out. I can't wait for nationals and I know the other girls can't wait either."
Lara Runge paced the Logan offense with three hits. Kellerman also had multiple hits with two safeties in three at bats. Rachelle Runge, Pinnick and Dunn all collected one hit.
"We just came out and played the best we could," centerfielder Lara Runge said. "We got on base and pushed the ball around and made them play. Today, we were fortunate enough to come out on top."
Runge said a trip to nationals is humbling.
"But I think we deserve to be out there. We have worked hard to get where we are at."
