MELROSE -- Paynesville is down, but not out.
The Bulldogs softball team was handed an 11-1, six inning loss by No. 1-seed Rocori in the Section 6AA-West final Thursday.
But both teams move on to the 6AA Final Four, where Paynesville (18-4) will face Holdingford, which lost to St. Cloud Cathedral 11-1, at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Whitney Park in St. Cloud.
The Spartans (18-4) scored at least one run in every inning, amassing a 6-1 lead after the fourth.
The Bulldogs lone run came in the second when Caitlyn Gottwald singled to right field and Keely Meagher scored on an attempted throw to first base.
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"We had baserunners in every inning. We just couldn't get consecutive hits," said Paynesville coach Tim Woehler.
Kayla Lieser doubled to start the fifth, but was stranded at third base. Lieser led the team with two hits.
Whitney Woehler took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits in 3Zc innings. Jackie Skoglund pitched the rest of the game.
Jordan Hansen doubled and hit a solo home run to pace the Spartans.
Chelsey Stang pitched four innings for the win, allowing one run on four hits. Maria Toren threw the last two innings, giving up two hits.
Rocori 11, Paynesville 1
Rocori (18-4) 211 241 -- 11 12 1
Paynesville (18-4) 010 000 -- 1 6 3
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HITTING - Rocori: Stacy Svihel 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2b, 2 rbi; Chelsey Stang 2-for-4, rbi; Jordan Hansen 2-for-4, 2b, solo HR, rbi; Paige Athmann 2-for-2, 3 runs, rbi ... Paynesville: Kayla Lieser 2-for-3, 2b; Keely Meagher 1-for-3; Shelby Goltz 1-for-2; Jessica Solum 1-for-2; Caitlyn Gottwald 1-for-2
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Rocori: Chelsey Stang (W) 4-4-1-1-1-0; Maria Toren 2-2-0-0-0-0 ... Paynesville: Whitney Woehler (L) 3Zc-6-7-4-1-1; Jackie Skoglund 2Xc-6-5-3-1-1
