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The Dogs, seeded fourth, committed five errors and allowed six unearned runs to the fifth-seeded Rockets. The loss ended the Dogs' season with a record of 10-8.

Rockford scored two unearned runs in the top of the first and two more in the top of the second to take the lead for good. The Dogs committed three costly errors in the first two innings.

The Dogs answered both of these rallies, scoring a run in the bottom of the first and two more in the bottom of the second. In the first, senior Kim Hess singled, stole second, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a groundout.

In the second, senior Kayla Mackedanz and senior Ashley Karger singled to start the inning and both scored on an error. The Dogs proceeded to load the bases in this inning but could not plate the tying run, trailing 4-3 after two innings.

Senior Ashley Karger attempts to turn a double play for the Bulldogs last week in their 9-4 loss to Rockford in the subsection playoffs as senior Leah Spanier awaits her throw at first and junior Allyson Klenke backs up the play.

Rockford expanded their lead to 6-3 in the top of the fourth, getting an RBI triple to score one run with this batter also coming around to score.

The Dogs scored their final run in the bottom of the fifth, as senior Ashley Spanier singled, stole second, and scored on an error.

This cut Rockford's lead to 6-4, but the Rockets answered with three more runs in the top of the sixth to make the final score 9-4.

The Dogs had beaten Rockford 12-4 at home in April, using a 19-hit attack to beat the Rockets. This time, though, the Dogs managed only six hits against Rockford.

Rockford proceeded to lose 1-0 in eight innings to top-seeded Annandale in the subsection semifinals on Tuesday, May 24, and Annandale won the subsection title by beating Howard Lake-Waverly on Thursday 10-7.

The Dogs finished their season with a 10-8 record, their first winning record since their inaugural season in 1981 when the team went 11-8 and reached the district finals. The Dogs started this season by winning eight of their first nine games, and they went 5-5 in the West Central Conference North, finishing third.

Rockford--	220	203	0	- 9	9	4
Paynesville--	120	010	0	- 4	6	5

Rockford - Batting: Pam Dickman 2-5 R RBI-5; Kara Francis 2-4 R; Kelsey Knutson 1-3 R-3; McCall Miller 1-4 3B R-2; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Knutson (W) (7-6-4-3-0-3).
Paynesville - Batting: Kim Hess 2-4 R SB; Ashley Spanier 1-4 R RBI SB; Kayla Mackedanz 1-3 R SB; Ashley Karger 1-3 R SB; Amber Chevalier 1-3; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Val Callenius (L) (7-9-9-3-1-0).