Blair Nelson Doubles Twice; Frantic Bluejay Rally Falls Short

Blair Nelson led a Bluejay charge that nearly brought them back against top-seeded DeKalb, but it fell short as NEN lost 8-5. 

Blair had two hits along with Paizlee Norman. Rylee Scadden, Mylee Wilmes, Addi Thummel, and Emma Vicker had one hit. The Bluejays cut down on their errors, only committing two after committing nine the game before.

Paizlee Norman beat out a pop fly single to start the Bluejay first. Rylee Scadden struck out, but Blair Nelson got a sac bunt and advanced Norman all the way to third. But Mylee Wilmes popped out to end the threat. 

Back-to-back doubles by Grace Downing and Rylie Burdette put DeKalb on top 1-0 in its half of the first. Two more walks forced in another run, and DeKalb led 2-0 after the first inning. Downing singled in two more in the second to make it 3-0 and an error made it 4-0. Ceci Sherlock grounded out to score Downing to make it 5-0. An error and a hit batter set up another big inning for DeKalb in the fourth as Kelsey Chatman grounded out to score Grace Downing, and Ceci Sherlock got down a sac bunt that scored Rylie Burdette to make it 7-0. A passed ball put DeKalb up 8-0 in the fifth.

But all of a sudden, Paizlee Norman singled to center to start the Bluejay sixth. Rylee Scadden struck out, but Blair Nelson walked, and Mylee Wilmes reached on an error to load the bases. Addi Thummel singled to center to score Nelson and Norman to put NEN on the board, down 8-2. 

When DeKalb couldn't score after starting off with runners on first and second with nobody out, the Bluejays still had some life left. With one out, Emma Vicker singled to right. Paizlee Norman struck out and the Bluejays were down to their final out. Rylee Scadden had struck out twice earlier in the game but beat out a bunt single to put runners on first and second and the Bluejays were still alive. With Blair Nelson up, the Bluejays were down to their final strike, but then Nelson crushed a double to score two runs and cut it to 8-4. Mylee Wilmes singled on a line drive to center as Nelson scored to make it 8-5 before Addi Thummel finally grounded out to end the game.