After last weekend's 4-2 district championship win over Rockwood Summit, the stage was set for the Wildcats to travel to Incarnate Word for a Class 4 State Quarterfinal matchup on Saturday.

The Wildcats 15-0 victory over the District 4 champions earlier in the year provided some deception to the rematch. The mercy shortened game saw a slew of Red Knights on the bench, including their ace pitcher Sophia Otten. 

The Red Knights started the quarterfinal matchup with Otten on the mound, putting her season 1.13 ERA to the test. The Incarnate offense would end up striking first, taking a 0-1 lead over the Wildcats. The score held at 0-1 until the top of the 3rd inning. A well placed bunt by sophomore Abby Milgie pushed the first runner of the day across home for the Wildcats, evening the score at 1-1. 

In the bottom of the 5th, sophomore Jaymison Lenk came to the mound for the Cats in relief of freshman Charlie Berkmeyer. A miscue by the Wildcat defense would end up allowing the Red Knights to regain the lead. A scoreless 6th inning for both teams followed, setting the stage for a dramatic finish with the Wildcats down 1-2 going into the 7th.

Westminster started the 7th inning on a good foot, with senior Coco Francisco getting on base with a single. A few batters later, senior Allie Branstetter came to the plate with 2 outs and the tying run still on the basepath. The Red Knights played it safe, walking the SLU commit moving Francisco to scoring position and putting the winning run on first base. Abby Milgie came to the plate and ran the pitch count to two strikes.  Down to the potential final strike of the season, Milgie dug into the batter's box and sent the ball flying into the right field gap. Francisco kicked it into high gear and rounded 3rd base to tie the game! The 2-2 tie would only hold for a few more pitches when Charlie Berkmeyer knocked a single into the outfield pushing Allie Branstetter across the plate to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game.

As if the top of the 7th did not hold enough drama, the bottom of the inning provided more anxious moments for the Wildcat faithful.  Head Coach Dan Petke found himself in a situation similar to what the Red Knights' coach faced in the first half of the inning. With the always dangerous Sophia Otten at the plate and a runner on second base with two outs, should he intentionally walk the opponent's best hitter or trust his pitching and defense? Coach Petke chose the latter and it paid off. Lenk's battle with Otten ended with a fly ball lifted to left field which came to rest in the web of freshman Morgan Dolley's glove. 3-2 Wildcats, END 7th! Final Four bound!

The team will now travel to the Killian Softball Complex in Springfield for the Class 4 State Final Four. Their semifinal matchup slots them against Father Tolton (22-10). The game will be played at 12 p.m. on Thursday, October 31. Depending on the results of that game, the Cats will play in either the state championship game on Friday at 10 a.m. or the third place game on Thursday at 3 p.m.