While all of the top-seeded Class AA teams advanced during Thursday’s opening round of the State Softball Tournament at Koehler Hall of Fame Field, there was a wide spectrum of finishes on the day.

Unbeaten Sioux Falls Lincoln received a no-hitter from Madison Evans in a 14-0 five-inning win over Watertown, Sioux Falls Jefferson held off a furious rally to edge Brandon Valley 5-4, Harrisburg rolled past O’Gorman 25-0, and Sioux Falls Washington walked off Rapid City Stevens 8-7.

Evans recorded all 15 outs via strikeout and allowed just one walk in Lincoln’s dominant victory.

Paxton Dekkers and Sara Mathiason each had three hits for the Patriots, who improved to 20-0 on the season.

Jefferson scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to grab a 5-1 lead only to have Brandon Valley battle back. The Lynx scored three two-out runs in the top of the seventh and had the bases loaded before the final out was recorded.

The Cavaliers scored twice in the first and then were held scoreless until the sixth.

“The girls were seeing the ball really well early. Give their pitcher credit,” said Jefferson coach Ed Whiting. “Macy (Lembcke) did a great job spinning it. I thought we were right there and it just ends up being a seven-inning game. That’s what it comes down to.”

Jefferson had just enough offense and defense to finish off the Lynx.

“We kind of play next-play moment,” Whiting said, “and that just ended up being what we needed when we needed it, and we’ll take it.”

Ashlen Johnson scored one of Jefferson’s three runs in the sixth, sliding past the Brandon Valley catcher for an important run.

“It was really close,” Johnson said of the play at the plate. “I was coming home and I was like ‘Oh shoot.’ I just dove towards the outside of the plate knowing she was on the inside and we got it through.”

Jefferson’s finish came much to the delight of a large continent of Cavaliers fans who made the trek to Aberdeen for the tourney.

“This is a great atmosphere,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of Jefferson Cavalier fans out supporting us. They’re very loud and we appreciate them driving this far to come out.”

Harrisburg scored 21 runs in the second inning on the way to its victory.

Madelyn Ducheneaux and Maleia Knutson each knocked in five runs for the Tigers, and Macy Bryant drove in four.

Ducheneaux and Bryant each pounded two home-runs in the three-inning contest.

Washington built a seven-run lead and then had to rally past Stevens, which responded with seven unanswered runs of its own.

Washington ended up scoring the winning run without a hit in the bottom of the seventh. A hit batter, error, and a walk loaded the bases before a walk pushed home the winning run.

Isabel Carda and Tierney Schramm each had three hits for Washington, which had four less hits in the contest.

Emma Dressler finished with four hits, including a double and triple for Stevens, which had tied the game at 7-7 on a single by Jaelah Scott in the top of the seventh before she was thrown out at the plate.

Today’s consolation games have Watertown against Brandon Valley at 10 a.m., and O’Gorman against Stevens at 12:30 p.m. Semifinal contests pit Lincoln against Jefferson at 3 p.m., and Harrisburg against Washington at 5:30 p.m.

It will mark the third contest between Lincoln and Jefferson this season.

“We just have to play to ourselves,” Johnson said. “We’ve seen Lincoln twice before. … I think this is our chance. It’s hard to beat a team three times in a row.”

Whiting knows the task that lies ahead, but is looking forward to having another chance against the defending state champs.

“We’re looking forward to another opportunity at Lincoln. We’ve kind of been up and down with them a little bit. They’re an outstanding team We know that, obviously undefeated,” Whiting said. “Madison Evans in the circle, best player in the state, best player I’ve seen in a long time. We’re glad that she’s a senior and going to graduate, we just wish she would do it today and not be back (Friday), but we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”

Watertown 000 00 – 0 0 4

Sioux Falls Lincoln 200 (12)x – 14 13 0

Alexa Brown, Kinsley Van Gilder (4), Lauryn Hirsch (4) and Emmy Berglund; Madison Evans and Avery Dorman. 2B – Sioux Falls Lincoln, Evans, Norah Christiansen. HR – Sioux Falls Lincoln, Paxton Dekkers.

Brandon Valley 001 000 3 – 4 10 1

Sioux Falls Jefferson 200 003 x – 5 4 1

Macy Lembcke and Danielle Schoby; Tya Devericks, Whitney Porter (7), Devericks (7) and Brooklyn Herrera. 2B – Brandon Valley, Alexa Harms; Sioux Falls Jefferson, Taylor Duncan; Sioux Falls Jefferson, Herrera. 3B – Sioux Falls Jefferson, Herrera.

O’Gorman 000 – 0 3 1

Harrisburg 4(21)0 – 25 11 0

Mary Koch, Laila Noonen (2) and Lucy Kappel; Cora Payne and Maleia Knutson. 2B – O’Gorman, Kappel, Koch; Harrisburg, Hailey Boer. 3B – Harrisburg, Peyton Bennett. HR – Harrisburg, Macy Bryant (2), Madelyn Ducheneaux (2), Knutson

Rapid City Stevens 000 230 2 – 7 13 2

Sioux Falls Washington 205 000 1 – 8 9 2

Emma Dressler, Lainey Van Zee (3) and Addie Hock; Emma Hensley and Isabel Carda. 2B – Rapid City Stevens, Dressler. 3B – Rapid City Stevens, Dressler. HR – Rapid City Stevens, Nieva Colicheski.