The Lady Cardinals turned back Columbia Rock Bridge 8-6 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four in Springfield.  The victory, number 30 on the season, looked  within easy reach when the Cardinals put up five runs in the first three innings, but they needed some late game heroics to put away the Bruins.

Webb City opened quickly with Morgan Coleman hitting a solo home run to right. Alexah Replogle later doubled and scored on a rbi single by Chelsi Smith.  A walk to Shelby Stuck was followed by a Lexi Gardner run scoring single and the Cardinals had a 3-0 lead after the first half inning.

The Bruins put a solo run up in the bottom of the first.

Kaitlin Beason and Replogle led off the third inning with back to back singles.  Beason was caught stealing at third on an attempted double steal, but Shelby Stuck was hit by a pitch and Gardner drew a two out walk to load the bases.  Laney Kneib then delivered a two run double and the Cardinals found themselves with a 5-1 lead.

The Bruins tallied a single run in the bottom of the third and cut the lead even more with a two run fifth.  

Rock Bridge took the lead in the bottom of the sixth scoring twice with two outs, 6-5, leaving the Cardinals with only three outs in their season. 

Alexah Replogle drilled a one out double, her fourth hit on the day, and Chelsi Smith reached on a walk to put two runners on.  Shelby Stuck flew out and the Cardinals were down to their last out, but Lexie Gardner singled to left and coach Resa waived Replogle home with the tying run.  Laney Kneib followed with the go ahead rbi single.  Asia Bemo added an insurance run a single that scored Gardner.  Kneib was thrown out at home on the play to end the inning with the Cardinals now leading 8-6.  

Kneib, who had been relieved by Kyra Parker in the third, returned to the pitching circle for the bottom of seventh.  She quickly secured the first out on an infield pop up, but a walk and a single put the tying runs on base for the Bruins.  However, another infield pop up and a fly ball to Callie Beaver ended the game and sent the Cardinals on to the Final Four.

Replogle finished a perfect 4-4 on the day with two doubles and scored three times.  Beason, Garnder  and Kneib each contributed two hits.  Kneib knocked in three runs on the day and Gardner batted in two.  

The Lady Cardinals will face Oakville on Friday morning at 11:00 in the state semifinals.  The game will be played at the Killian Sports Complex in Springfield MO.