Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Ankeny players celebrate their state quarterfinal win over Waukee Northwest on Monday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Do not let their record fool you: the Ankeny softball team is as battle-tested as they come.

The Hawkettes knocked off another ranked foe here Monday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at Rogers Park, besting Waukee Northwest, 2-0.

Up next for Ankeny (22-20 overall) will be top-ranked West Des Moines Valley back here on Wednesday at 10 a.m. on Channel Seeds Field. The two played earlier this month with the Tigers winning 16-4 and 7-3.

A pair of fifth-inning runs were all that came across home, as Autumn Leinen drove in Josie Parton after a double by Abby Rusher. Brylee Bach scored later in the frame on a wild-pitch.

That was enough support for Rusher, as the senior allowed just two hits and struck out four.

“I just love her so much,” said Avery Nelson — a sophomore who had two hits — about Rusher. “She is great pitcher and did an incredible job.”

In the state field for the 29th time in school history, the Hawkettes knocked off Southeast Polk in a 5A regional final. They have faced off against the elite of softball including state qualifiers Waukee, Urbandale, Fort Dodge, Williamsburg, North Polk and Carlisle.

“We are super excited,” senior Ava Tomlinson said. “Growing up with these girls, this is what we always dreamed of. It is an awesome feeling to be in the semis.”

Waukee Northwest (33-8), which held the top-ranked spot in the state earlier in the year, will now face Cedar Rapids Prairie in a consolation game Tuesday at 10 a.m. on Yankee Field.

ANKENY 2,

WAUKEE NORTHWEST 0

Ankeny 000 020 0 — 2 5 0

Northwest 000 000 0 — 0 2 0

WP–Abby Rusher (15-10, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 4 BB). LP–Sophia Schlader (18-6, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K, 0 BB).

2B–A: Abby Rusher. RBI–A: Autumn Leinen. SB–A: Josie Parton.