St. Elizabeth softball beats Silex 7-3 in Class 1 quarterfinals

SILEX - For the first time since 2011, the St. Elizabeth Lady Hornets are headed to the Final Four.

The Lady Hornets beat the Silex Lady Owls 7-3 on Saturday in the Class 1 state quarterfinals.

Silex, ranked No. 8 in Class 1, ends the season with a record of 20-3.

It's the eighth time the Lady Hornets have reached the Final Four. St. Elizabeth has four state championships in its previous seven appearances, including 2011.

Each team scored a run in the third inning, then St. Elizabeth added another run in the fourth to build a 2-1 lead.

Silex took its first lead of the game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Lady Hornets answered with three runs in the sixth and two more insurance runs in the seventh.

Riley Hammond pitched the first five innings, allowing one earned run on six hits while striking out six Lady Owls to earn the win.

Emily Wilde came on in relief to pitch the final two innings and struck out three batters without allowing a baserunner.

Tasia Green led the Lady Hornet offense with two hits.

Wilde was one of four Lady Hornets with one hit, along with Ella Lucas, Addie Oligschlaeger and Lauren Otto.

The Lady Hornets (18-7), ranked No. 10 in Class 1, move on to face the La Plata Lady Bulldogs (25-7) in the state semifinals at 11 a.m. Friday in Springfield.

La Plata, ranked No. 7, beat Atlanta 3-1 Saturday to claim its spot in the Final Four.