After giving up two runs in the top of the first inning, No. 2 seed Springfield scored 12 unanswered as the Tigers defeated unseeded Lewiston-Altura 12-2 in five innings in the Class 1A state quarterfinals at Chaska Athletic Park on Thursday.

The Cardinals struck first by scoring two runs on just one hit in the top of the first inning. Senior center fielder Landon Kieffer got Lewiston-Altura (12-14) on the board with an RBI single - the Cardinals' only hit of the game.

Springfield (19-6) responded by sending 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first. The Tigers' six-run first inning started when senior shortstop Sam Baier led off the inning with a single.

Baier reached base four times in Thursday's game and also scored the final run of the fifth inning to put the 10-run rule into effect and give Springfield the win.

With the win, the Tigers advance to Friday's semifinals at Chaska Athletic Park. Lewiston-Altura will head to the consolation bracket and play at the Jordan Mini Met on Friday.

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