The Oskaloosa softball team kept their season alive on Thursday night as they beat Central Heights 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the 2-1A State Tournament in Pratt. 

Both teams scored one run in the first inning. The Bears (23-5) got on the board on an RBI single by Parris Olivia-Marsh and the Vikings (23-5) would respond by getting a run on a throwing error. 

Oskaloosa would retake the lead in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Brynn King. 

They would make it 3-1 in the sixth inning on a monster solo home run to left field by Keirstyn Mitchell. 

Both starting pitchers were fantastic led by Lily Pullen for Oskaloosa. Pullen pitched all seven innings allowing one unearned run, two hits, one walk, and 13 strikeouts. 

Central Heights starting pitcher was Aracely Crump and she pitched all seven innings allowing three runs on six hits with 13 strikeouts. 

The last time Oskaloosa was in the state tournament was back in 2019 where they finished runner-up. 

The Bears will face (1) Dexter/Cedar Vale (27-1) in the semifinals on Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM.