MARSHALL, Mo. - The St. Elizabeth Hornets are going back to the Class 1 state baseball quarterfinals.
St. Elizabeth held off a late rally by Northwest: Hughesville on Monday to take a 6-5 win in a sectional game at Marshall High School. With the win, St. Elizabeth (14-5) advances to host Silex (14-3) in the quarterfinals Wednesday. Silex advanced with a 4-2 win Monday in its sectional against Jamestown at Troy High School.
Dakota Kemna got the win in relief Monday for the Hornets, pitching five-plus innings. He allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits and two walks while striking out six. Mason Kemna pitched the first inning, allowing three earned runs on six hits and a walk.
Aaron Blomberg came on relief in the seventh for the Hornets to get the save. The Mustangs had runners at first and second with nobody out before Blomberg shut the door. He didn't allow a hit or a walk while striking out one.
Blomberg finished with three hits and scored a run Monday. Ross Struemph added two hits and an RBI, while Dakota Kemna reached base four times. Kemna and Dylan Wobbe each drove in a run.
St. Elizabeth fell 6-5 to eventual state runner-up Wellsville in last year's quarterfinal at Mexico High School.