For Lexi Trueg, Monday’s state tournament debut for the Cedar Falls softball team was one to never forget.

Trueg hit one of four home runs by the Tigers, who advanced to the Class 5A semifinals with a thrilling 12-11 victory over Southeast Polk. Cedar Falls (31-9 overall) now faces Linn-Mar (34-6) on Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. back on Iowa Central Field inside Rogers Park.

Josie Turner, Amanda Finck and Sydney Runyan joined Trueg in the home run club for the Tigers, who have won six in a row since splitting with Linn-Mar.

“That was terrifying,” Truegg said. “I just had so much faith in my defense, myself and our hitting that I knew we could handle the pressure.

“It really was an exciting game, and much more fun now that it is over.”

Nine combined runs were scored in the first inning, as Cedar Falls led 5-0 and then had to rally from a 10-6 deficit with a five-spot in the fifth.

Trueg, who also earned the win inside the circle, scored three runs. Finck had four RBI, and Keira Rathjen had two hits with a pair of RBI.

Southeast Polk (31-11) finished one hit away from tying the 5A single-game record, as they had 17. The Rams will face Pleasant Valley Tuesday at 12:45 p.m. on Dodger Field in a consolation contest.

Kenna Brooker was 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored for Southeast Polk. Jesslyn Stairs had four hits and drove in four.

Berkley Weiland and Kailee Thamontri each had three hits and scored three times.

CEDAR FALLS 12, SE POLK 11

Cedar Falls 510 150 0 — 12 12 0

SE Polk 424 001 0 — 11 15 1

WP–Lexi Trueg (4.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 3 BB). LP–Carly Kielman (0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 K, 0 BB).

HR–CF: Lexi Trueg, Josie Turner, Amanda Finck, Sydney Runyan. 2B–CF: Keira Rathjen; SEP: Ava Miller, Kenna Brooker. RBI–CF: Lexi Trueg, Kennedy Buskohl, Amanda Finck (4), Sydney Runyan, Carly Turner, Keira Rathjen (2), Josie Turner (2); SEP: Kennedy Borud, Jesslyn Stairs (4), Kailee Thamontri, Kenna Brookers (3), Ava Miller (2). SB–CF: Lexi Trueg; SEP: Kailee Thamontri, Berkley Weilund.