Playing in the state tournament for the first time since 2019, the Mustangs unleashed an offensive onslaught, mostly in one inning, and they rolled past Lisbon 8-1 in a Class 2A quarterfinal Tuesday on the Iowa Central Field at Rogers Sports Complex.

East Marshall, now 33-4, is at state for the seventh time in school history, but none of the players on this year’s team had played here before.

They didn’t show it, banging out eight hits and plating seven runs in the bottom of the second inning.

“We talked about early in the year with the players where we would like to be as the season progressed,” said head coach Jary Hoskey, who is coaching in his fifth state tournament at East Marshall. “This was one of the steps along the way. We started to peak around the 17th or 18th game of the season. We started getting timely hitting, good pitching and good defense. We really peaked at a good time.”

PHOTO BY BRITT KUDLA/FORT DODGE MESSENGER - Peyton Grabenbauer (1) rounds third base on her way to a celebration at home plate after hitting a grand slam during the second inning of Tuesday’s Class 2A state softball quarterfinal game against Lisbon at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

Sophomore Peyton Grabenbauer provided the big blow on offense, smacking a grand slam in the bottom of the second to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead.

Bailey Grant started the surge with a one-out double, and Ashtyn Wheater followed with a double. Grant’s courtesy runner Cora Talbert came across on Libby Atcher’s infield single, and Makayla Kerber’s bunt single loaded the bases.

Back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Morgan Neuroth and Vaeda Bryan made it 3-0 before the decisive shot.

Grabenbaur left no doubt on her homer, clearing the left-field fence easily as her teammates swarmed out of the dugout. It was her fifth home run of the season.

“I really can’t explain the feeling. I just knew I needed to help the team,” said Grabenbauer, who had never hit a grand slam before. “We had the bases loaded and got a couple runs on walks, but I knew we needed more runs. I never had a grand slam, so it feels pretty good to get my first at state.”

PHOTO BY BRITT KUDLA/FORT DODGE MESSENGER - East Marshall courtesy runner Cora Talbert, left, slides safely across home plate with the first run of the game, kicking off the Mustangs’ seven-run second inning after an infield single by Libby Atcher.

All that offense by the Mustangs was backed by a strong pitching performance from the senior Neuroth, who allowed just four hits and struck out eight.

“It’s so easy to go out and pitch when your offense puts that many runs on the board,” said Neuroth, who will play at DMACC next year. “As a pitcher, you know you can work out of anything.”

Neuroth was also a prognosticator. She said she told coach Hoskey that Grabenbauer was hitting a grand slam when she came to the plate.

“I told him it was going to happen and it did,” Neuroth said. “Those are just things we are always going to remember.”

Neuroth retired the final seven batters she faced after allowing Lisbon’s lone run in the top of the fifth on an infield single that dropped between a trio of fielders.

PHOTO BY BRITT KUDLA/FORT DODGE MESSENGER - East Marshall’s Bailey Grant (5) implores her team after hitting a double in the second inning of Tuesday’s Class 2A state softball quarterfinal game against Lisbon in Fort Dodge. Grant’s extra-base hit ignited a seven-run rally for the Mustangs, who won 8-1.

Over the final two innings, just one batter hit the ball out of the infield, flying to center for the second out of the seventh inning.

“She’s such a gamer,” Hoskey said of Neuroth. “She set the career strikeout record earlier this year. It’s sad it’s her last year here. DMACC is getting a heck of a player.”

Neuroth now has 272 strikeouts for the season and picked up her 27th win, most among Class 2A pitchers in the state field.

Lillian Gaiser got the only run for Lisbon, scoring from second base when a high fly by Addi Petersen dropped into the infield with two outs.

East Marshall answered back in the bottom of the fourth when Bryan scored on a single by Ava Bringmann.

Atcher finished with two hits for the Mustangs, who face No. 1 seed Van Meter (41-1) in the semifinals today at 3 p.m. on Iowa Central Field. Van Meter beat West Fork 10-0 in six innings in their quarterfinal clash.

“All the teams here are good teams,” said Hoskey. “We’ve got a good team, too. We’ll give them a game.”

Lisbon (27-13) plays in a consolation final today at 10:30 a.m. against West Fork (18-8).

CLASS 2A

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, July 23

Van Meter 10, West Fork 0, 6 innings

East Marshall 8, Lisbon 1

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 6, Northeast 1

Audubon 4, West Monona 3

Consolation Finals

Wednesday, July 24

No. 5 Lisbon (27-13) vs. No. 8 West Fork (18-8), 10:30 a.m.

No. 2 Northeast (27-8) vs. No. 6 West Monona (33-8), 12:15 p.m.

Semifinals

Wednesday, July 24

No. 1 Van Meter (41-1) vs. No. 4 East Marshall (33-4), 3 p.m.

No. 3 Audubon (28-4) vs. No. 7 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (23-13), 5:15 p.m.

Third Place

Friday, July 26

Semifinal losers, 3:30 p.m.

Championship

Friday, July 26

Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.