ACKLEY — For the second consecutive season, the St. Edmond softball team finds themselves one win from the state tournament.

The 10th-ranked Gaels (20-8 overall) take on No. 4 AGWSR (25-7) Monday night in a Class 1A, Region 2 championship game. First-pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Last Friday night, St. Edmond used a nine-run seventh to erase a 5-3 deficit and stun sixth-ranked Mason City Newman. Jocy Timmerman drove in three runs during the rally, as the Gaels sent 13 batters to the plate and collected eight hits.

Timmerman went 3-for-4 on the night with four RBI in all, with Erin Flattery going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Senior Audrey Kolacia has reached base via hit or walk in each of her past 20 games for St. Edmond.

Eight different Gaels have driven in 13-or-more runs, with Jacque Oberg and Timmerman leading the way with 24 each. Timmerman has struck out just once in 93 plate appearances.

After struggling in the second inning vs. the Knights, freshman Ella Vratny retired 14 of the final 19 batters she faced to improve to 19-7 on the year. She has struck out 126 batters this season.

AGWSR knocked off Bishop Garrigan in the semifinals, 3-0, plating two runs in the third and another in the fifth in support of Taryan Barrick. The junior tossed a one-hitter, striking out 15 with two walks. Barrick is 24-5 with a state-best 345 strikeouts in just over 168 innings, walking 54 batters.

Over her last seven games, Barrick has not allowed an earned run, striking out 99 with just 12 hits surrendered.

Rachel Sicard, a sophomore, blasted a two-run homer vs. the Golden Bears, giving her six on the season. Makenna Kuper, a freshman, leads the team with eight homers and six triples.

AGWSR lost in a regional final a year ago to Belle Plaine, 3-2, with St. Edmond falling in the same round to Montezuma, 7-1.