LE GRAND — The East Marshall softball team broke a 1-all tie with three runs in the fifth inning en route to a 5-1 victory over Ogden in Saturday’s Class 2A Region 4 semifinal game.

The Mustangs (25-9) advance to Monday’s 7 p.m. regional final at No. 4 Osage (28-1). The Green Devils defeated Dike-New Hartford 8-1 to advance and host the game to get to state.

East Marshall led Ogden 1-0 for the first four innings after scoring in the bottom of the first. Gianna Boswell walked, took third when Miyah Grabenbauer’s bunt was misplayed, and scored on Ashtyn Wheater’s groundout.

Ogden (22-12) drew even in the fifth when a pair of errors paved the way for Camryn Askelsen’s RBI single with two outs.

In the home half of the fifth, Vaeda Bryan and Libby Atcher hit consecutive singles before Makayla Hala drove them both home with a double. Two outs later, Grabenbauer’s infield hit drove her home, and Wheater followed with a double. Ogden escaped the jam after Peyton Grabenbauer hit a long fly ball to center that was caught for the final out.

The Mustangs tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when Bryan reached with a one-out walk and scored on another single by Atcher.

Peyton Grabenbauer made it work, battling through persistent threats for the win. She allowed six hits and one unearned run, walking three, hitting a batter and striking out two. The Bulldogs had at least one baserunner in every inning, but couldn’t get the clutch hits when needed.

West Marshall 7, Chariton 6

CHARITON — The West Marshall softball team scored its seven runs in the first three innings and fought off Chariton’s constant challenges for a 7-6 victory in Saturday’s Class 3A Region 7 semifinal.

West Marshall (23-10) led 7-1 after three innings but couldn’t put another dent in the scoreboard as the host Chargers (17-7) fought back. Chariton scored twice in the fourth and sixth innings and got another run across in the seventh, but the Trojans closed the door in the end.

Jillian Karsjen went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs to lead the West Marshall offense, while Ashtyn Blood went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs. Lillian Fischer hit a double, and Lily Zahnd was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Amelia Ranson and Rachel Randall both singled and scored, and Aubree Greenwood added a hit to support her own cause.

Greenwood gave up three earned runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out two for the win.

Chariton senior Lucy Stratton allowed three earned runs on nine hits and two walks with no strikeouts.

West Marshall will go back out on the road for Tuesday’s regional finals at No. 7 West Liberty (21-7) in hopes of advancing to the state tournament. The Comets defeated Roland-Story, 7-0, in their regional semifinal.

Ankeny Christian 5, BCLUW 0

ALLEMAN — The BCLUW softball team mustered just three hits in its season-ending defeat, falling 5-0 to No. 11 Ankeny Christian Academy in Saturday’s Class 1A Region 8 semifinal at North Polk Middle School.

The Comets (20-8) got singles from Cassie Nason, Klayre Gallentine and Grace Farnsworth, but it wasn’t enough to piece together a run against the Eagles (17-2). Ankeny Christian senior pitcher Katie Quick finished with seven strikeouts and one walk, which also went to Nason, and the Eagles made just one error.

Quick also propeled her team offensively, hitting a three-run home run to spark a five-run third inning.

Gallentine took the loss for the Comets, allowing four earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three. Freshman Eden Ladehoff pitched three innings of hitless relief, allowing no runs on one walk while striking out five.

BCLUW was ticketed for three errors in the season-ending loss, but still finished with 20 wins for the first time since 2019.

Ankeny Christian will face No. 9 Mason City Newman (23-5) on Monday night in the regional finals.