Minnesota softball state tournament: Rosemount defeats Forest Lake in Class 4A title game, completes undefeated season

The Irish scored four runs in the second inning to pull away.

2023 Minnesota high school softball playoffs: How to watch the MSHSL state tournament

Below are the brackets for each classification:

2023 Class AAAA MSHSL State Softball Championships

2023 Class AAA MSHSL State Softball Championships

2023 Class AA MSHSL State Softball Championships

2023 Class A MSHSL State Softball Championships

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Class 4A

No. 1 Rosemount 6, No. 3 Forest Lake 1

NORTH MANKATO, Minn. — The No. 1-seed Rosemount Irish defeated the No. 3-seed Forest Lake Rangers 6-1 in the Class 4A championship game to complete an undefeated season at 26-0

Francie Gregor hit a single past the shortstop. She scored on a fly ball hit by Brie Bakke that fell between the Rosemount center and right fielder for a 1-0 lead.

"It is a little nerve-wracking being back in this position and being in the state championship game," Rosemount pitcher Jessa Snippes said. "I was a little nervous at the beginning, but I knew our team had my back and we’d get those runs back."

Rosemount had a chance to tie the game after Macy Fry doubled to lead off the inning. Forest Lake pitcher and freshman Avery Muellner proceeded to strike out two batters and force a ground out to keep the Irish off the scoreboard.

The Irish took the lead in the fourth inning. Issabelle Nosan drew a walk, and after a fly-out, Irish star Paige Zender hit a two-run home run over the left field wall to give the Irish a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.

"[Muellner] got me on that first at bat, and I kind of knew what she was going to throw me after that," Zender said. "I went up there, and if I saw a pitch I liked I was just trying to put a good swing on it. … She was going outside on a lot of us, and then trying to get in a changeup, so I knew I was going to have to try and attack early"

The Rangers threatened the Irish lead in the top of the sixth inning. Karianne Drury reached on a single, and Hannah Tong drew a walk with one out in the inning. With runners on first and second, Snippes got an out via fielders' choice and a fly out to keep the Rangers behind 2-1 entering the sixth inning.

"We try to stay as calm as possible," senior Nosan said. "It was a tough game to start with calls not going our way, but as we kept doing it, we knew we wanted insurance runs."

The Irish pulled away in the sixth inning build a 6-1 lead in the sixth inning. Cecelia Hanson singled to start the inning. After an out, the Rangers changed from Muellner on the mound to Tong.

Snippes and Zender drew a walk off Tong to load the bases. Kayla Bartol hit an RBI single to drive Hanson in. Jorey Fry hit another single to plate Snippes, and the Irish led 4-1.

The Rangers put Muellner back on the mound, but Macy Fry hit a single to drive in another run, and Arianna Princl added one more with an RBI single to give the Irish a 6-1 lead entering the seventh inning.

The Rangers got runners on second and third in the top of the seventh, but Snippes worked out of the inning to finish the game and earn the complete game. The Irish take their fourth state title in school history, and second in two years.

"I’m just so proud of everybody," Zender said. "It feels so great to end my Rosemount career with a win. That’s what we dream of. We just had a perfect season, and that’s amazing."

Snippes finished the game allowing only two hits, one run, three walks and seven strikeouts.

Muellner finished with six innings pitched, three earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts.

Final play of an undefeated season for @RHS_IrishSB @RosemountHS is your @MSHSL Class AAAA Softball Champions! pic.twitter.com/Y5Cj80h2Sg

— NSPN - Minnesota (@NSPNminnesota) June 9, 2023

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