CLEAR LAKE — The third-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team was unable to exorcise their Clear Lake demons here Friday night.

After taking an early lead on the No. 12 (3A) Lions, the Gaels were unable to avoid the big inning, as Clear Lake won to even the season series, 8-6.

Rihanna Myers had a solo home run for St. Edmond (20-7 overall, 10-2 in North Central Conference), as Ella Vandi went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and six stole bases, as Jade Rock had three hits.

“We just can’t seem to solve it up here,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “But we’ve been playing really well as of late, so we’ll just flush it and move forward. We still have plenty of play for this season.”

The Gaels now fall into a tie for second in the NCC standings with Clear Lake (21-5, 9-2), as 11th-ranked (3A) Algona (18-4, 10-1) leads after defeating Webster City last night. St. Edmond will host the Bulldogs on Monday night at Rogers Park, looking to avenge a loss earlier this season.

While the Gaels have just one final league game remaining after facing Algona, the Bulldogs and Lions will play for a second time on July 1. St. Edmond has won at least a share of each of the last four conference championships.

For Clear Lake, Alivia Paine hit a home run and drove in four, as Taylor Schwenn, Jezzie Thompson and Alaina Hartl each had two hits.

St. Edmond will now prepare to host a one-day tournament at Rogers Park on Saturday with No. 15 (2A) Pocahontas Area, North Union, Eagle Grove, Mason City, Le Mars Gehlen, Estherville-LC and fifth-ranked (3A) Van Meter in attendance. The Gaels will face Le Mars Gehlen at 10 a.m. and Van Meter at 2 p.m., with both games on Diamond 2.

Pocahontas Area plays Mason City at 10 a.m. on Diamond 1 and Estherville-LC at noon on the Iowa Central Field. North Union takes on Van Meter at 10 a.m. (ICF) and Mason City at noon (D2) while Eagle Grove faces off with Le Mars Gehlen at noon (D1) and Estherville-LC at 2 p.m. (D1).