RIO GRANDE — Dropping Mackenzie Rucker gave the Fairland Lady Dragons a lift.

However, Megan Auxier just kept rising.

Rucker was dropped in the batting lineup a couple of spots and came through with a two-run inside-the-park home run.

Auxier didn’t seem to change despite moving up in the lineup as she hit the game-winning home run and pitched the Lady Dragons to a 3-2 win over the Zane Trace Lady Pioneers Tuesday in the Division III district semifinals.

“Mackenzie came through with a good at-bat. We moved her down to the No. 4 spot and it took some pressure off her. She’s hit well the last few games,” said Lady Dragons coach Leroy Baise.

Besides her home run, Auxier struck out eight, did not walk a batter and allowed seven hits in going the distance.

“Megan threw a good game. Megan is the only senior on the team and we’ll go as far as she’ll take us,” said Baise.

In the top of the first inning, Auxier singled and Rucker hit a drive past the rightfielder to the fence at the University of Rio Grande field and she circled the bases.

The fence is 225-feet to center, so there’s more room than we’re used to,” said Baise.

Zane Trace tied the game in the second inning.

Katie Cartee and Bethany Bloomfield doubled for the first run. Courtney Bloomfield followed with an RBI single.

Neither team scored until the sixth inning when Auxier led off with a 275-foot solo home run that gave the Lady Dragons the lead.

Zane Trace threatened in the bottom of the seventh.

Bethany Bloomfield reached on an error to start the inning. After a strike out, Courtney Bloomfield singled. Both runners moved up on a ground out by Rachel Proehl. But Maggie Hildenbrand hit a fly ball to Beth Schlegel in right field to end the game.

Auxier was 2-3 to pace the offense.

Proehl took the loss. She also struck out eight, allowed seven hits and did not walk a batter.

Courtney Bloomfield was 2-3 to lead Zane Trace (23-2).

Fairland (17-9) will now play at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lucasville Valley High School in the district finals against Unioto, a 2-1 winner over Wellston.

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Megan Auxier and Mackenzie Rucker. Rachel Proehl and Jessica Graves. W-Auxier (8-K, 0-BB). L-Proehl (8-K, 0-BB). 2B-Zane Trace: Cartee, Bethany Bloomfield. HR-Fairland: Mackenzie Rucker, Megan Auxier. Hitting-Fairland: Megan Brooks 1-4, Sara Simms 1-3, Megan Auxier 2-3, Rucker 1-3, Kirstin Midkiff 1-3, Beth Schlegel 1-3; Zane Trace: Rachel Proehl 2-4, Tieana Steele 1-3, Katie Cartee 1-3, Bethany Bloomfield 1-3, Courtney Bloomfield 2-3.