Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond senior Anna Kolacia reacts after the final out of a Class 1A state quarterfinal on Tuesday at Rogers Park.

There isn’t much that can erase the pain of a nail-biting loss at the state tournament.

But the St. Edmond softball team definitely showed why they deserved a spot in the Class 1A field.

For six-plus innings here Tuesday evening inside a loud and boisterous Rogers Park, the Gaels went toe-to-toe with No. 1 Martensdale-St. Marys. The Blue Devils were able to scratch across a late run and make it stand, advancing with a 1-0 victory over the Gaels.

While Martensdale-St. Marys (26-6 overall) moves into the semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Kruger Seeds Field vs. Wayne, St. Edmond (23-12) will conclude its season at 1:30 p.m. against Remsen St. Mary’s in a consolation contest.

“What a game,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “Our girls came out and they were ready and wanted that win. We knew their record and ranking, but we weren’t intimidated by it one bit. Our pitcher matched their pitcher and our defense made some incredible plays.

“This loss definitely stings because we were right there, but at the same time, it shows how far we’ve come as a program.”

Kaili Henning spun a four-hitter vs. a Blue Devil lineup that had scored 19 runs in three regional games. Thirteen times this year MSM scored over 10 runs, including 20 once.

Henning struck out three and worked around a pair of walks, while Blue Devil ace Campbell German struck out 12 and surrendered just one hit – to SEHS senior Anna Kolacia in the second.

“We came here for the win,” Henning said. “It was very motivating to be going against (German) and that team. We knew they were No. 1, but we hung with them and gave them everything they could handle.”

Martensdale-St. Marys, who return seven starters from a team that also reached the semis last year, finally broke the scoreless tie in the sixth after Ellie Baker reached and scored on a double by Sydney Bears.

Ansley Oswald made an incredible catch at first to get the Gaels out of the inning with the bases still loaded after Baker scored.

“The defense was so great behind me,” Henning said. “They made some great plays that kept us in the game.”

Henning was also a pest in the side of German at the plate, drawing a pair of walks. Michaela Leiting, who ran for her, was left stranded at second in the second and first in the seventh.

“We felt like we just needed that one hit to come so we could get something going,” Shirbroun said. “We battled and we did everything we could.”

The Gaels, who captured the North Central Conference, are at state for the sixth time and first since placing third in 2015. They were the only team to defeat Remsen St. Mary’s during the regular season, posting a 2-1 victory in Carroll at the CYO.

Martensdale-St. Marys and Wayne (22-8) split a pair of regular season games, with Wayne winning the first, 2-0, and MSM taking the second a few weeks later, 8-2. The two are Pride of Iowa Conference rivals.

MARTENSDALE-ST. MARYS 1, ST. EDMOND 0

St. Edmond 000 000 0 – 0 1 1

M-SM 000 001 x – 1 4 0

WP-Campbell German (11-4, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 12 K). LP-Kaili Henning (14-5, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K).

2B-MSM: Campbell German. RBI-MSM: Sydney Bears.