A late rally came up a few runs short for the Waupaca softball team.

The Comets went into the bottom of the fourth inning trailing Freedom 9-1 and ended up dropping a 14-11 Eastern Valley Conference decision to the Irish April 17.

Freedom scored three runs in the top of the first before adding two more in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth.

Waupaca came up with a run in the first and started the comeback with three runs in the fourth to cut the lead to 9-4.

However, the Irish scored three times in the fifth and added two more in the seventh.

Waupaca came up with a run in the fifth, five in the sixth and one in the seventh.

Both teams had 13 hits, but Waupaca also committed six errors.

Tasha Smith led Waupaca at the plate with five hits and five RBIs, while Mandy Tomlinson had four hits and drove in a pair of runs.

Samantha Schumacher had three hits to lead Freedom. Taylor Hanus picked up the win on the mound and Jolie Borntrager took the loss.

The Comets hosted Little Chute April 22 for an EVC doubleheader and will head to Appleton Xavier for another doubleheader Friday, April 25, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.