Badgers’ senior starting pitcher Noelle Champagne fanned eight batters, while allowing seven hits and 10 walks in 6 2/3 innings, with most of her strikeouts coming in the latter innings. Abby Wells relieved Champagne and got the final out in the top half of the seventh inning to earn the save.

“Beating Wausaukee three times this year was not easy,” said Niagara coach Brad Richtig. “They have improved each time we played them. They are well coached and I expect to battle them in the future.”

Niagara and the Lady Rangers are both members of the Marinette-Oconto Conference. The Badgers defeated Wausaukee 18-1 and 10-3 during the regular season.

Wausaukee got on the scoreboard in the top half of the opening inning on two Badgers errors.

(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) Niagara senior Haley Allred (18) squares to bunt in the fifth inning of Monday's WIAA Division 5 regional softball game at Riverside Field in Niagara.

In the bottom half, Rangers hurler Rachel Schlies loaded the bases with three of her 17 walks in the game. Badgers first baseman Abigail Richtig belted a bases-clearing single to give the home team a 3-1 lead. Richtig’s 3 RBIs led Niagara in the game.

The Rangers took the lead back at 5-3 in the top of the second inning off of three more errors by the Badgers and an RBI single by Amber Caylor, who had 2 RBIs. Niagara tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run single from leadoff hitter Wells.

The flood gates opened up for Niagara in their half of the fifth inning, plating five runs without getting a hit. In fact, Schlies only allowed three Niagara hits the entire game.

“I give our girls credit in that inning, they took some pitches, got on base and their patience allowed us to score some runs,” Richtig said.

Aiva Champeau, Champagne and Beau Anderson each walked with the bases loaded to drive in a run in the fifth inning.

The Rangers made things interesting in the top of the seventh, with Schlies cracking a triple off the fence in left-center. Caylor, who drove in Schlies two batters later, scored on an RBI single off the bat of Melody Schaal.

Wells finally closed the door as Niagara held on for the win. The Badgers will travel to face rival Florence on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the next round of the WIAA regional. The Bobcats defeated Niagara at Florence in late April.

“The girls have done a good job all season not letting themselves get upset,” Richtig said of Niagara’s early errors. “They correct their mistakes and move on. The girls were nervous tonight. We haven’t played a tournament game in two years and only four of our nine players were even on the team two years ago.”

Seniors Champagne, Haley Allred, and Jadah McCarthy, along with junior Lillian Loukus are the four mainstays from the 2019 Lady Badgers team. “I have to give Noelle (Champagne) credit for how hard she worked on the mound tonight, especially in the hot sun,” Richtig said.

Wausaukee 1 4 0 0 0 0 2 — 7/7/2

Niagara 3 2 0 0 5 0 X — 10/3/7

WP: Champagne; LP: Schlies; S: A. Wells