ATHENA — For the first time in four years, Weston-McEwen will not be making a trip to the 2A/1A state championship game.

Hadley Foster hit a home run and drove in three runs, and Addie Bishop gave up one run on five hits while striking out nine, to lead the No. 3 Rams past No. 2 Weston-McEwen 9-1 on Tuesday in the semifinals to earn a trip to the state finals for the first time since they won in 2011.

“We met with a good team today,” W-M coach Jeff Griggs said. “I can say they were better than we were today, but I can say they were better than us yesterday, too. I like the fact the girls didn’t give up and they didn’t quit. There are times I look out there and we are so young. That mental toughness has been an issue for us all year.”

Regis (28-3) will play No. 4 Heppner in the championship game at noon Friday at Jane Sanders Stadium at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Weston-McEwen finished its season with a 16-7 record.

After a scoreless first inning, the Rams (28-3) put two runs on the board in the second as Hadley Lulay scored on a passed ball and Olivia Adams had an RBI single.

Foster hit a two-run home run in the third for a 4-0 Regis lead.

In the bottom of the third, Lily Langford hit a double to join Hailie Burns on base with two out. The Rams intentionally walked Bre Ward to load the bases. Hope Berry hit a fly ball to left field, which was caught for the third out.

“You can’t say the game came down to one thing, but we had the bases loaded and Hope Berry hit a line drive to left field,” Griggs said. “The girl (Macy Bohnke) laid out and caught it Major League style. When that happened, all the air went out of our sails.” 

Regis would add one run in the fifth for a 5-0 lead, then added four runs in the top of the seventh, including three on the same play that included an RBI single by Foster, and an error that allowed two more runs to score.

The TigerScots scored their lone run in the bottom of the seventh as Megan McLouth scored on an error.

Evelyn Hodgson, Langford, Olivia Sargent, Burns and Georgianne Morris all had one hit for Weston-McEwen. Ward took the loss, allowing nine runs on 12 hits while striking out six and walking eight. Foster led Regis, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, while Adams and Azzilin Smith were 2-for-5 with an RBI