Roughriders hold off Hi-Liners in EDC first round

Rylie McQuillan had three hits and drove in four runs leading third seed Grand Forks Red River to an 8-4 win over sixth seed Valley City in the quarterfinals of the Eastern Dakota Conference tournament Tuesday in Grand Forks.

The sophomore had a two run double to get the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning to give the Riders an early 2-0 lead.

Valley City cut the lead in half in the top of the second with a two out, rbi single by Kinlee Sufficool. Emma Langemo and Sydney Larson started the inning with singles, then after two strikeouts, lined a 1-2 pitch into right field scoring courtesy runner Jamie Vavra to make it 2-1. Hadely Thoreson would ground out to end the inning.

Red River scored two more runs in the bottom of the third. Mya Mannausau led off with a walk, then McQuillan singled to left. When the ball got by left fielder Thoreson, Mannausau came around to score to make it 3-1. McQuillan, who reached second on the play, came in to score on Jocelyn Berg's ground out.

The Hi-Liners would get a run back in the fourth when Jamie Vavra came in to score on Dylann Diegel's fly ball out to center. On the play, courtesy Camryn Berg was doubled off third to make it a double play. Grace Undem flew out to end the inning.

The Roughriders scored what proved to be the game winning runs in the bottom of the fourth on an rbi groundout by Ella Weippert and an rbi single by McQuillan to make it 6-2 home team.

The Hi-Liners would score two runs in the top of the fifth to get within 6-4. Kinlee Sufficool would lead off the inning with a solo home run to left. Then with two outs, Jada Nelson scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Autumn McGough.

Red River would put the game away in the bottom of the fifth with two more runs. The first coming on Elizabeth

Nuelle's rbi single. The second came one pitch later on Amy Jacobson's sacrifice fly, scoring Reilyn Kachena.

The Hi-Liners threatened in the sixth. They would load the bases with no one out, but back to back fielder's choices erased two base runners and with runners at second and third, Nelson popped out to end the threat.

The Hi-Liners ould again load the bases in the seventh on two errors and a single by Diegel. But, Grace Undem struck out to end that threat.

The Hi-LIners out hit the Riders 8-6. Sydney Larson, Dylann Diegel and Kinlee Sufficool each had two hits. Emma Langemo and Joesi Klien had the other two. Sufficool drove in two runs while Diegel and McGough each drove in one.

Valley City, now 5-14 on the year, will play Devils Lake Friday afternoon in Grand Forks in a loser out game. Red River, now 10-6, will face second seed West Fargo Friday evening.