-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Jade Rock of St. Edmond hits an RBI single against GTRA on Thursday at Rogers Park

The fifth-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team rebounded from a tough road loss by topping GTRA here Thursday night at Rogers Park, 9-2.

Senior Faith Shirbroun finished 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, freshman Breckyn Ulrich had two hits, stole four bases and scored once, and three other Gael (11-2 overall) players each scored twice.

After falling to Algona in North Central Conference play Wednesday, St. Edmond plated runs in four innings, including two in the first and two in the second.

“It was good to come out and score early,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “I thought we still left too many runs out there. We just have to find ways to get that key hit and not leave so many runners on base.”

St. Edmond stranded nine on the night, including eight in scoring position. They also left the bases loaded in the second inning after both Jade Rock and Ella Vandi drove in runs to make it 4-0.

Toryn Helle picked up the win inside the circle, striking out nine with six hits and two earned runs allowed. She did not walk a batter, throwing 72 of her 92 pitches for strikes.

Sophia Schlienz, Rock and Baylor Ulrich each scored twice, as Ulrich came on to run for Liv Andrew after she was walked in her two at-bats.

Rock had two hits and drove in a pair out of the two-hole in the lineup, as the first three batters for St. Edmond finished 7-for-11 at the plate with six runs scored and four RBI.

“We’re just not as consistent as I would like,” Shirbroun said. “We gave some other girls a chance to swing the bat and I liked what I saw out of them. We’ve got to find that right lineup that can produce big innings and put games like this away early.”

After the Titans (6-6) scored two in the fifth, the Gaels answered with four runs, highlighted by doubles from Schlienz and Shirbroun.

For GTRA, Addison Hansen and Kamryn Hough each had two hits and drove in a run.

Up next for the Gaels will be a trip to Clarion-Goldfield/Dows on Friday night before facing off with top-ranked (3A) and defending state champion Williamsburg and Humboldt at the Van Meter Tournament on Saturday.

ST. EDMOND 9, GTRA 2

GTRA 000 020 0 — 2 6 5

St. Edmond 221 040 x — 9 11 1

WP–Toryn Helle (7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 9 K, 0 BB). LP–Lauryn Hough (6 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 2 K, 5 BB).

3B–GTRA: Addison Hansen; SE: Faith Shirbroun. 2B–SE: Sophia Schlienz, Faith Shirbroun (2). RBI–GTRA: Addison Hansen, Kamryn Hough; SE: Jade Rock (2), Faith Shirbroun (2), Toryn Helle, Ella Vandi. SB–SE: Faith Shirbroun, Ella Vandi, Breckyn Ulrich (4), Baylor Ulrich (2).