Photo by Patrick Coons: Ansley Oswald of St. Edmond tries to slide around the tag of Webster City’s Cloe Savitski on Monday night in Webster City. The Lynx won, 3-1.

WEBSTER CITY — The Webster City softball squad evened the score on Monday and made things a lot more interesting along the way.

The Lynx (11-14 overall, 7-2 in the North Central Conference) split the season series with sixth-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond (16-9, 7-2), earning a 3-1 win to pull into a first-place league tie.

Webster City and the Gaels shared the NCC championship last year, and are now back in the same position heading into the home stretch.

“Any win against a quality opponent like St. Edmond is good,” said WCHS head coach Brad Van Deer. “We have been on the wrong side of the score against good teams a lot this season, but we are now starting to finish the game the way we want to.

“We’re coming together at the right time. The kids are relaxed. I’m excited to see the way we play going forward.”

Humboldt (10-9, 5-2) is still in the chase as well. The Wildcats and Lynx will meet on Friday in Humboldt.

The Gaels host Humboldt in their season finale on Wednesday, June 28.

Bonnie Nohrenberg led the Lynx at the plate on Monday with two hits, two stolen bases and an RBI.

Delainey Bargfrede recorded two hits. Ava Peterson drove in a run and Breanna Bahrenfuss drove in a run.

Bargfrede picked up the victory, throwing a three-hitter while striking out six batters and allowing only a single unearned run.

Webster City took a 1-0 lead into the sixth. The Gaels tied the contest with one in the top of the inning, but Webster City regained the lead for good with two in the bottom of the frame.

“This was the best we’ve hit one through nine,” Van Deer said. “We strung things together and were able to hold St. Edmond off.”

Ansley Oswald, Kaili Henning and Anna Kolacia had hits for the Gaels. Kolacia recorded a double, while Henning drove in the only run to plate Lauren Gibb.

Henning gave up just one earned run and struck out 10.

“We stranded six runners and had no two-out clutch hits,” said SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun. “We had two runners thrown out at home, too.

“We threatened late, but just couldn’t push them across.”

On Saturday, the Gaels split to close out the Fort Dodge Invitational at Rogers Park. St. Edmond fell 7-4 to Sioux City Heelan, but bounced back with a 3-1 win over Waterloo Columbus.

Ansley Oswald and Gibb recorded two hits each against Heelan. Gibb tripled.

Payton Bradley fired a five-hitter with three strikeouts versus Columbus. Faith Shirbroun doubled.

St. Edmond is back in action tonight when they host Clarion-Goldfield-Dows. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. at Rogers Park.