CLEAR LAKE — The St. Edmond softball team put together a late rally, but it wasn’t quite enough as they dropped a 3-2 decision to Clear Lake.

The Gaels (3-6 overall, in the 2-5 North Central Conference) scored a run in the top of the sixth to tie things up. Both clubs went scoreless through the seventh and eighth before Clear Lake scored the winning run in the ninth inning.

“We fought hard,” said St. Edmond head coach Bill Shirbroun. “We are still making mistakes on easy plays and we have to correct that.

“We are getting there.”

Ella Vratny drove in Kaili Henning in the sixth to tie the contest at 2-2. The Gaels then shut down the Lions in the sixth, seventh, and eighth, but not without escaping trouble.

In the bottom of the seventh, Clear Lake led off with a triple. Vratny then intentionally walked the next two batters. Clear Lake hit two straight comebackers to Vratny, who made plays at home to Kacey Kruthoff. The final out came on a foul ball caught by Kruthoff.

The Gaels made some noise of their own with a leadoff triple from Henning in the top of the eighth. Clear Lake shut the door, though, to keep St. Edmond off the board.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Clear Lake’s No. 9 hitter a walk-off home run for the victory.

“All losses are frustrating, but giving up a home run to their No. 9 hitter is tough,” Shirbroun said. “Kudos to her, but with two outs…that was tough.”

Henning, Gracie Harvey and Vratny all had two hits for the Gaels. Vratny recorded a double.

Jocy Timmerman, Kruthoff and Ashlyn Headlee had the other hits. Vratny and Alyson Nieland had an RBI each.

St. Edmond is back in action on Thursday as they head to North Union. The Gaels and Warriors will finish a postponed game first at 5 p.m. The contest will start in the top half of the fourth, with North Union leading 4-3.

Ella Vratny had two RBI in that game. Kaili Henning tallied a double and two runs, while Jocy Timmerman was 2-for-2 with a run.

Junior varsity will follow that postponed game, followed by another varsity tilt.

CLEAR LAKE 3, ST. EDMOND 2

St. Edmond 000 101 000 — 2 9 4

Clear Lake 020 000 001 — 3 7 3

2B–SE: Ella Vratny.