There’s no quit in the Wilton softball team.

There’s no panic, either.

The sixth-seeded Beavers had lost all of their momentum from an early three-run advantage, and suddenly found themselves on the ropes against No. 3 seed and undefeated Logan-Magnolia Tuesday afternoon at Rogers Park.

Wilton pitcher Charlotte Brown buckled down, though, escaping further damage from a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the bottom fifth with a pair of strikeouts. The Beavers (27-6 overall) then immediately responded, plating two runs in the sixth on their way to a 7-4 Class 2A state quarterfinal victory on Iowa Central Field.

The Panthers (28-1) rallied like a team that hadn’t lost all season, suddenly looking very much alive after Wilton had controlled the first four frames. Following a quick visit to the mound with the contest asuddenly deadlocked at 4, Brown struck out Marki Bertelsen and Kattie Troxel to end the threat and leave three runners stranded.

“I just told them (during the meeting in the pitcher’s circle) we were fine and needed to relax,” Beaver head coach Kortney Denkman said. “We were down (7-4) in the regional final and it didn’t faze the girls. We’ve been in tough situations all year long and almost always find a way to respond, whether it’s (rallying from a deficit or holding off the opponent).”

Brown improved to 25-6 on the season, striking out 11 Lo-Ma batters and walking just one. She now has 240 Ks this year.

“Charlotte is our workhorse,” Denkman said. “She’s been steady for us, pitching all but 12 of our innings (in 2022). There was some trouble (in the fifth), but we battled through it.”

Taylor Drayfahl, Madelyn Wade, Payton Ganzer and Cathie Hook all drove in runs for Wilton. Drayfahl, Brown, Wade and Ganzer had two hits each.

Brown and Drake both tripled. Wade doubled twice.

“No one ever really had a doubt,” Drayfahl said. “We’re a balanced lineup 1-9. We’ve been in some tough situations, but there’s never been a reason for us to panic.

“We just go out there and have fun.”

Samantha Yoder drove in two for the Panthers. Erika Rife collected two hits.

The Beavers are back in the state semifinal round, where they bowed out a year ago vs. Earlham. Six starters return with their eye on redemption, as Wilton now squares off with No. 2 seed North Union (33-3) at 3:30 p.m. back on Iowa Central Field.

“We’re a different team, though,” Drayfahl said. “We’ve learned our lessons and feel better and more confident (this time around).”

Logan-Magnolia will take on Louisa-Muscatine in a 2A consolation game.

WILTON 7,

LOGAN-MAGNOLIA 4

Wilton 022 002 1 — 7 12 0

Logan-Mag 001 030 0 — 4 6 2

WP–Charlotte Brown (25-6; 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 11 K); LP–Abby Hyatt (25-1; 7 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 9 K). 2B–W: Madelyn Wade 2; L-M: Samantha Yoder. 3B–W: Charlotte Brown, Kinsey Drake. SB–W: Calli Langley 2, Audra Coss, Kaylee Coss; L-M: Marki Bertelsen.