Nobody this year – with the exception of fellow state qualifiers – has been able to topple Estherville-Lincoln Central on the softball diamond.

But for four innings here Monday night at the state tournament, the Midgets found themselves in a battle with Davis County.

However, Estherville-LC exploded for seven combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings, posting an 11-3 victory and advancing to the Class 3A semifinals where they will face Williamsburg. That game is set for Wednesday at 3 p.m. on Kruger Seeds Field.

Taking advantage of mistakes by the Mustangs (24-5) and timely hitting, the Midgets improved to 32-3 overall and 32-0 against teams not named Benton, Ankeny or Ankeny Centennial this season.

While Benton is in the same 3A field this week as E-LC, both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial were 5A qualifiers. Overall, the Midgets posted 20 shutouts this year, including a run of six straight before allowing a single run vs. West Lyon in the regional final.

Rylee Yager picked up her 14th victory of the season, striking out nine while working around four hits allowed and two earned runs. Like Yager, many of her current teammates were part of the state qualifying basketball team and helped the E-LC track team win 11 titles this past spring.

Tatum Dunlavy connected on a home run, going 2-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored. Yager had four hits and scored three times, while Abreiana Christoffer had two hits and Hillary Ruschy drove in a pair.

Davis County is here for the second time in school history after debuting last season. The Mustangs won the South Central Conference and will now face Albia in a consolation game Tuesday at 3 p.m. on Dodger Field.

ESTHERVILLE-LC 11, DAVIS COUNTY 3

E-LC 003 025 1 – 11 11 2

Davis County 012 000 0 – 3 4 4

WP-Rylee Yager (14-3, 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 9 K). LP-Madeline Barker (22-3, 7 IP, 11 H, 8 ER, 3 BB, 14 K).

HR-ELC: Tatum Dunlavy. 2B-ELC: Haylee Stokes; DC: Rachel McFarland. RBI-ELC: Rylee Yager, Tatum Dunlavy (5), Haylee Stokes, Hillary Ruschy (2), Jordyn Stokes; DC: Rachel McFarland (2), Kaitlyn Olinger.