Chloe Miller's two-run walkoff long ball in the bottom of the eighth inning powered No. 5 Pleasant Valley to a dramatic 2-0 triumph over West Des Moines Dowling in a Class 5A state quarterfinal Tuesday night at Rogers Park.
Miller, a University of Wisconsin recruit, followed a leadoff double by Maddie Reynolds with a shot over the fence in left-center field for her 13th home run of the year.
Reynolds, a No. 2 hitter, finished 2-for-3 offensively for the Spartans (33-6), who will now face sixth-ranked and defending 4A state champion Des Moines East (32-5) in the 5A semifinals Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on Diamond 2.
Lexi Spelhaug (15-4) went the distance in the win for Pleasant Valley, allowing just two hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Kaitlyn Mauk (double) and Jessica Bastian (single) contributed the lone hits for the Maroons (25-16).
Fact Box
PLEASANT VALLEY 2,
DOWLING 0 (8 Inn.)
WDM Dowling 000 000 00-0 2 2
Pleasant Valley 000 000 02-2 4 0
Demi Plathe (L, 14-9; 7 + IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K) and Emily Aller; Lexi Spelhaug (W, 15-4; 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) and Haley Smith. 2B-D: Kaitlyn Mauk; PV: Maddie Reynolds. HR-PV: Chloe Miller. MH-PV: Reynolds (2). SH-D: Aubrie Crivaro; PV: Tristen Zaruba. LOB-D: 5; PV: 7. DP-D: 2; PV: 1.