Mustangs stun Williamsburg
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Mount Vernon used a big fifth-inning rally to build enough of a lead and the Mustangs held on from there, posting a 5-4 upset win over top-seeded and three-time defending state champion Williamsburg on Tuesday at the state softball tournament.
The No. 4 seed in Class 3A handed the Raiders their first loss at Rogers Sports Complex since 2022 thanks in large part to a four-run frame that turned a 1-all tie into a 5-1 Mount Vernon advantage in the fifth. A two-run double by Rylee Rasmussen was the key hit that capped the burst.
Williamsburg (38-6 overall) didn't go quietly, answering with a run in the bottom half of the fifth and two in the sixth to get within a run of the lead. But Hayden Gookin closed the door and pushed the fourth-seeded Mustangs (35-7) into Wednesday's winner's bracket matchup at 1 p.m. on Iowa Central Field.
Brynlee Bettcher slugged a two-run home run for Mount Vernon against Raider ace Jersey Metz (23-4). Lucy Wischmeyer contributed two hits in the triumph.
Gookin is now 23-4. She gave up four earned runs, but went the distance, striking out five.
Kiley Allen and Harper Meyers recorded two hits each for Williamsburg, which now has a steeper climb to try and become the first softball squad in modern-day Iowa high school history to earn four consecutive state crowns. No. 9 hitter Maddie Gorsh drove in a pair.
The Raiders are at state for a seventh consecutive time. These two squads split a twinbill during the regular season.
MOUNT VERNON 5,
WILLIAMSBURG 4
Mount Vernon 010 040 0 -- 5 8 2
Williamsburg 000 122 0 -- 4 9 1
WP--Hayden Gookin (7 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K); LP--Jersey Metz (7 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K). 2B--MV: Rylee Rasmussen; W: Maddie Gorsh. HR--MV: Brynlee Bettcher. SB--MV: Annabelle Smith, Courtney Thurn; W: Keston Spratt, Harper Winegarden.