-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Jade Rock of St. Edmond slides around Gehlen Catholic Halle Walgenbach on Saturday at Rogers park

The third-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team scored a split here Saturday at Rogers Park during their home tournament.

After defeating Le Mars Gehlen by a final of 16-3 in four innings, the Gaels fell to No. 5 (3A) Van Meter in a 13-3, five-inning decision. Last summer, Van Meter won the 2A state championship.

St. Edmond senior Faith Shirbroun added to her school-record home run total vs. Le Mars Gehlen, while also going 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI, three runs scored and three steals. Ella Vandi was 3-for-4 with three RBI and scored three times, as Sophia Schlienz finished with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored.

Vandi, Schlienz and Shirbroun set the tone once again, as they helped St. Edmond (21-8 overall) put down three in the first, five in the second and eight in the third.

“We’ve got those first three hitters figured out now,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “Ella has done an outstanding job of setting the tone out of the leadoff spot and Sophia is a great No. 2 hitter. They are giving Faith plenty of runners to drive in.”

Greenlee Crimmins added two hits and two runs scored, as Baylor Ulrich scored twice with an RBI. Rihanna Myers pitched all four innings, striking out seven while allowing three hits and no earned runs.

“We had several other girls with quality at-bats, and Rihanna did a nice job inside the circle,” Shirbroun said. “I thought we played pretty well all day, even in defeat against a very good Van Meter program.”

Shirbroun and Myers each drove in a run vs. the Bulldogs, with Vandi recording the lone hit. She did steal three bases, also reaching on a walk. Shirbroun added two more steals.

Along with now holding career school records for home runs, runs scored, doubles and total bases, Shirbroun surpassed Lauren Gibb for the top RBI mark and is tied with her for career hits.

St. Edmond played the contest with Van Meter minus Toryn Helle, as the ace of the pitching staff and cleanup hitter was hit by a pitch for the second consecutive game against Le Mars Gehlen and remained out for precautionary reasons.

The Gaels will host North Central Conference leader and No. 11 (3A) Algona on Monday night back here at 7:30 p.m.