ALGONA — The Webster City softball team was able to forget the past and focus on the present here Wednesday night, and the result was a quality non-conference victory.

Just 24 hours after being drubbed by top-ranked (Class 5A) Fort Dodge, 16-0, the Lynx rebounded without their defensive leader to take down sixth-ranked (1A) Algona Garrigan, 4-3.

WCHS (7-4) took control with a three-run fifth inning and then held on down the stretch to preserve the victory.

“The girls did a good job of rebounding from the night before and adjusting to a new lineup and new defensive players,” WCHS head coach Jess Howard said. “They came out and played strong.”

Taylor McKinney, the Lynx five-year starting shortstop, missed the contest due to a rib injury she sustained against Fort Doge. Alayna Finucan moved over from second base to fill her spot, and Fallon Casey and Chloe Andersen platooned at second.

“We had practice (Wednesday) morning to get the girls ready for the position changes and they adapted real well,” Howard said. “Having girls that you can throw into a middle infield position … it’s a confidence boost for the whole team knowing we’ve got depth and people that can step up and make plays.”

Howard is hopeful that McKinney will be able to return to the lineup either this evening when WCHS hosts top-ranked (4A) Carlisle, or on Monday when it hosts Roland-Story in the regular season finale. The Lynx will open up the postseason next Saturday, July 18.

Addie Tesdahl ripped two hits, highlighted by a two-RBI single in the fifth, to pace the Lynx offense against Garrigan (10-4). Finucan and Faith Anderson both had a single and RBI; Kelly Stoakes and Chloe Andersen singled as well.

Garrigan’s Amanda Miller roped the game’s only extra-base hit — a first-inning double that allowed the Golden Bears to take an early 1-0 lead.

WCHS evened the score with a run in the second on Faith Anderson’s RBI single. The Lynx then sent eight batters to the plate in the fifth and received knocks from Chloe Andersen, Stoakes, Finucan and Tesdahl.

An RBI single by Emma Fogarty in the sixth cut the Lynx lead to 4-2, and the Golden Bears tacked on an unearned run in the seventh before WCHS hurler Jenna Miller got out of the jam with a fly-out to Tesdahl in right.

Jenna Miller pitched a four-hit gem, and only one of the Golden Bears’ runs was earned. She struck out five.

Tonight’s junior varsity contest against Carlisle will start at 5:30 p.m., a half-hour earlier than usual. The varsity clash is expected to begin at 7 p.m.

Webster City 4, Garrigan 3

Wednesday at Algona

Web City 010 030 0 — 4 6 5

Garrigan 100 001 1 — 3 4 1

Jenna Miller and Jill Symens. Amanda Miller and Mackenzie Meister. WP — J. Miller. LP — A. Miller. Multiple hits — WC: Addie Tesdahl. 2B — GAR: A. Miller. RBI — WC: Tesdahl (2), Alayna Finucan, Faith Anderson; GAR: Emma Fogarty.