Southland's Brandi Schammel pulls back from an inside pitch against Hayfield Friday night in Rose Creek. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

ROSE CREEK — The Rebels showed their experience and the Vikings showed a little youth as Southland came back from a five-run deficit to beat Hayfield 9-8 in a softball game Friday.

Southland (1-0 overall) scored six runs over the last three innings to get the win and they closed it out in the seventh when Whitney Bamrick lifted a fly ball to center field for a sacrifice fly to score Jana Schammel from third.

“I was looking to hit anything good,” Bamrick said. “I think last year, we would’ve gave up and lost hope (in a game like this). This year we came back and we were more patient.”

Southland, which had its first four hitters reach base in the bottom of the seventh, tied the game when Brandi Schammel drew a bases loaded walk to score Hannah Hamilton, who led off the inning with a pinch hit single through the right side of the infield.

Hayfield's Dani Wagner slides into home as Southland catcher Haley Kirkpatrick tries to hold onto the ball during their game Friday in Rose Creek. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

The Rebels were able to get back into the game with their balance as eight players had at least one hit.

“We’ve got a lot of good athletes and they’ve played together for a long time. They had confidence and a lot of patience,” Southland head coach Greg Shulte said. “Every girl we have can hit the ball well and we just have to find the ones that are on that night and get them in there.”

Hayfield (0-3 overall) took an 8-3 lead in the top of the fifth when it put up six runs. Emily Blanchard had a two-run single and Hannah Wiltgen tripled in a run during the rally.

While Hayfield, which has no seniors on its roster, had 12 hits, it had just one hit in the last two innings as the Rebels pulled closer.

“We started to improve on hitting, but we’re not stringing them together to get as many runs as we need,” Hayfield head coach Jana Wagner said.

Kelli Smith had three-run scoring singles for Southland, including big hits during the fifth and sixth inning to keep her team in the game.

Smith said the Rebels never felt like it was over after allowing a big inning to the Vikings.“We knew we wanted to get back up and stay in it,” she said. “We were pumped up and wanted to be able to keep the game going and we were hoping a rally was coming.”

Southland strung together four straight two-out singles in the sixth to pull within 8-7.

Hayfield 1 0 1 0 0 6 0 — 8 12 2

Southland 3 0 0 0 2 2 2 — 9 14 2

Southland pitching: Brandi Schammel (W), 7 IP, 12 H, BB, 8 R, 6 ER, 8 K

Southland hitting: Jana Schammel, 1-for-3, 2 R, 3 SB, BB; Lindsey Bottema, 2-for-5, R, SB; Brandi Schammel, 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BBs; Whitney Bamrick, 3-for-5, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Celina Yunker, 2-for-4, triple, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Kelli Smith, 3-for-4, 3 RBIs; Holly Goergen, 0-for-3; Haley Kirkpatrick, 0-for-2, BB; Sarah Nelson, 1-for-2, BB; Brooke Yunker, 1-for-1, RBI, SB; Hannah Hamilton, 1-for-1, R, SB

Hayfield pitching: Justine Sanvick (L), 7 IP, 14 H, 5 BB, 9 R, 8 ER

Hayfield hitting: Abby Blanchard, 1-for-4; Dani Wagner, 3-for-4, HR, RBI, 3 R, SB; Emily Blanchard, 2-for-4, 2 RBIs; Kailee Siemers, 1-for-4, RBI, R; Hannah Wiltgen, 1-for-4, triple, RBI, R; Grace Walker, 0-for-4, RBI, R; Jaide Ryks, 2-for-3, SB, BB; Meg Tapp, 0-for-3; Jessie Foster, 2-for-4, RBI, R, SB; Rachel Masching, 0-for-1