The Spartans are surging.

Seven Lakes has gone on a run as we head towards the end of the regular season. The Spartans have won seven of their last eight and they have skyrocketed up the district standings, going all the way from eighth at one point earlier this season to having a chance to sit in third with a result on Tuesday.

Tuesday was the biggest game of the Spartans season thus far. They came in sitting in fourth in district but only half a game back of Mayde Creek for the third spot, going up against the Rams both teams came in looking at the matchup as a hugely important game. But in the end, Seven Lakes ended up being too much for Mayde Creek, as the Spartans came out 5-0 winners behind a huge fifth inning and a stellar pitching display from Amy Abke.

“It’s a huge win for us,” said junior third baseman Kamryn Wallman.  “We had a rough start to the season, but we came back from it and it’s just been an amazing season. Getting this win today was just so important for us.”

For five innings, it was a huge pitching battle between the two teams, as both Abke and Mayde Creek’s Alyssa Gonzalez both shut down the two team’s offenses.

Abke kept her performance going all night, pitching a one hitter, striking out nine over her six innings of work. But The Spartans would eventually get to Gonzalez in the fifth inning after four terrific innings from the senior.

“We were under everything to start the game, and we were chasing pitches out of the zone.” Abke said. “We got to that inning and we finally just started shortening up and being patient. Once we did that, she started throwing us pitches we could hit and the results came.”

Wallman got the Spartans on the board in the fifth with an RBI single after Emma Wingate doubled to start the inning, Abke then hit a two-run home run and Kaley Garland added another with a solo shot, Dulce Franco hit a double as the Spartans put up five runs in the inning.

That was all they would need, as Abke closed the game out with two more strong innings and had a defense that made a number of big plays behind her to not let the Rams on the board.

“It just makes us unstoppable when we are playing the way we did tonight,” Seven Lakes head coach Holly Koopmann said. “When Amy is pitching at the level she can and when our defense is behind her making plays, I really would put us up against anybody.”

With the win, the Spartans move to 11-12 on the year and 7-4 in district play. Mayde Creek drops to 12-8-1 overall and 7-5 in district play, as the Spartans now sit in third by half a game.

“I think this group of girls works harder than any team out there,” Koopmann said. “There isn’t a practice where these girls don’t leave exhausted and they give us everything. From players to coaches, the group is working so hard and the results are showing that.”