MANKATO – The Hayfield softball started off on the right foot, but it keep the momentum as it lost 7-3 to Cherry in the Minnesota Class A state softball quarterfinals in Caswell Park Thursday.

Hayfield sophomore Carrie Rutledge led the game off with a solo homer, but the Viking bats couldn’t keep it going. Hayfield left runners on first and third in the top of the first and Cherry (21-4 overall) took the lead for good when it scored off a wild pitch and a double in the bottom of the first to go up 2-1.
Cherry led 6-1 when Hayfield senior Grace Mindrup blasted a two-run homer to right field to make it 6-3 in the fifth.
The Vikings (18-9 overall) had a big chance in the seventh inning when they had the bases loaded with one out, but Maggie Streightiff lined into a double play to end the game.
Hayfield will play Pine River-Backus in an elimination game at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Hayfield 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 – 3 7 1
Cherry 2 0 1 3 0 1 X – 7 11 0
Hayfield pitching: Jacie Gustine (L) 4 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 6 R, 5 ER; Jackie Sanvick, 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER
Hayfield hitting: Carrie Rutledge, 1-for-2, HR, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB, BB; Alexis Dudycha, 1-for-4; Grace Mindrup, 3-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs, R, BB; Maggie Streightiff, 1-for-4; Olivia Matti, 0-for-3; Kelly Johnson, 1-for-3; Kate Kruger, 0-for-3; Gustine, 0-for-1, BB; Nikki Cortez, 0-for-2; Sanvick, 0-for-1