TAGGED OUT — Martin County West catcher Ivy Kokoruda (left) tags out Buffalo Lake-Hector runner Lilly Hubin on a play at the plate during a Section 2A elimination-bracket softball game at Caswell Park in North Mankato. (Photo by Greg Abel)

NORTH MANKATO — The No. 6-seeded Martin County West Mavericks softball team used a four-run seventh inning to edge the No. 7-seeded Buffalo Lake-Hector Mustangs 7-6 in Saturday’s first Section 2A elimination-bracket game at Caswell Park.

The Mavericks continued their season by claiming a 9-7 victory over the No. 4-seeded Springfield Tigers.

Martin County West (14-9) advances to face Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s in another elimination game at 5 p.m. Tuesday back at the North Mankato-based facility.

The winner between the Mavericks and Knights advances to face New Ulm Cathedral at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Caswell Park.

Martin County West trailed Buffalo Lake-Hector 6-2, but scored one run in the bottom of the sixth and used a big rally the seventh to stun the Mustangs to advance on Saturday.

“We wanted to get the first runner on base,” Mavericks’ head coach Darrell Ziegler said. “We haven’t been hitting well the past three games, so this was nice to see.”

The Mavericks’ Paige Anderson started the rally with a single before Thea Anderson, drew a walk. Emily Anderson singled home the first run and Taylor Elliott singled home another run to get the Mavericks closer.

Liv Borchardt singled home the tying run and Lauren Borchardt drove home the winning run on a fielder’s-choice grounder.

Elliott led Martin County West’s offensive effort by collecting three hits, including a two-run homer, scored two runs and drove in three. Emily Anderson had two hits, while teammates Lina Arnold, Paige Anderson, Liv Borchardt, Lauren Borchardt, Hailee Schuett and Camryn Clow contributed one hit each.

Buffalo Lake-Hector’ s hitting attack was led by Leslie Rodriguez and Emilee Hable, who each had three hits. Lilly Hubin had two hits, while Tori Schmalz, Madalynn Wulkan and Elizabeth Ovitt had the Mustangs’ other hits.

Emily Anderson earned the win in relief, pitching the sixth and seventh innings for Martin County West.

“All of our pitchers did a nice job for us,” Ziegler said. “They each threw strikes.”

It was all Mavericks against the Tigers early on as MCW built an 8-0 advantage.

Springfield made things interesting before Emily Anderson came in to pick up the save, retiring the final three hitters she faced.

“Emily has earned three or four saves for us this season, so she was familiar with the situation she faced,” Ziegler said. “It was nice to see the girls hit the ball well.”

MCW’s Paige Anderson and Liv Borchardt had two hits apiece to lead the offense. Ivy Kokoruda, Thea Anderson, Emily Anderson, Hailee Schuett and Clow also contributed hits.

The Mavericks stole five bases and were helped by seven Springfield errors. Arnold was the winning pitcher.

(Game 1)

BLH 100 104 0 — 6 10 2

MCW 020 001 4 — 7 11 2

Alexandra Maiers (LP) and Emilee Hable. Maddie Carlson, Emily Anderson (6, WP) and Ivy Kokoruda.

LOB–Buffalo Lake-Hector 12, MCW 9. 2B–Leslie Rodriguez (BLH), Hailee Schuett (MCW). HR–Taylor Elliott (MCW).

(Game 2)

MCW 401 030 1 — 9 8 0

SFLD 000 006 1 — 7 6 7

Lina Arnold (WP), Maddie Carlson (6), Emily Anderson (7, Sv) and Ivy Kokoruda. Jaeli Roiger (LP), Jalivia Richert (6) and Megan Ploeger.

LOB–MCW 9, Springfield 7. 2B–Ivy Kokoruda (MCW), Brooklyn Sturm (SFLD), Jalivia Richert (SFLD) and Victoria Roiger (SFLD).