Missing a big part of its offense near the top of the lineup on Wednesday, East Union got a big boost from the bottom four spots in its first postseason appearance since 2019.

No. 9 batter Izabella Avalos sparked the sixth-seeded Lancers with a two-run homer, and pitcher Mikayla Simpson struck out eight in a three-hitter, as they knocked off No. 11 Wood of Vacaville 5-2 in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs.

East Union (16-13) took the lead for good with a three-run rally in the sixth, getting RBI hits from No. 6 hitter Na’meen Harper and No. 8 Elli Flores, as well as a sacrifice fly from pinch-hitter Isabelle Reyes out of the No. 7 spot.

“We didn’t have our best game, but they still found a way to win,” East Union coach Dylan DeBrouwer said. “We’ve had to do that throughout the year. We’ve had periods where we weren’t playing great softball, but we’ve had to fight, scratch and claw and find a way to win. That’s what it was today, and it was a whole team effort.”

The glaring absence from her usual No. 2 spot in the order was speedy junior shortstop Caliyah Lopez, who is nursing a hamstring injury. Simpson was moved up to the 2 hole, going 2-for-3, and Harper filled in well at in her place defensively.

Harper, a freshman, is a late-season call-up after playing mostly at catcher for the junior varsity team. She cleanly fielded two grounders for assists in the fourth inning, then hit the go-ahead single in the sixth.

“I saw the perfect pitching coming in slow, but not too slow and right down the middle,” Harper said. “I just took the opportunity. I was just super happy I got that hit. I could hear my teammates and coaches cheering me on, as well as my dad in the stands.”

What started out as a pitchers’ duel in the first four innings changed after Avalos’ big bash in the bottom of the fifth.

With one out, Flores on base after getting by a pitch, Avalos swung at the first offering from Madisyn Farnham (six innings, seven hits, three walks, two hit batters, four strikeouts) and launched it to straightaway center.

“As soon as I hit it, honestly, it felt perfect,” Avalos said. “I was just expecting something early in the count, because she had been going after everyone pretty early, and after my last at-bat (a flyout to center field), I felt like I was right on it and my timing was good. As soon as I saw that (pitch), I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s a meatball,” and took it all the way.”

The Wildcats (14-10) answered in the top of the sixth, capitalizing on an infield error that got leadoff batter Sophie Rivera on base. Courtesy runner Natalie Wise was moved by Aubrey Redline’s sacrifice bunt, and Lily Anderson singled. Abigail Sova drove in both runs with a single to right. She finished 2-for-3 with a double.

The Cal Baptist-bound Simpson was not discouraged by Wood’s counter.

“I’m just really pumped,” Simpson said. “I came out here knowing that we were going to give them a good fight, and I feel really confident with my teammates behind me, because I know how amazing they are on and off the field. When you have teammates that always have your back, you know that no matter what the score is, you’re always going to be in the game.”

Simpson credits coach DeBrouwer and his assistants for changing the culture of the program in their first season together.

East Union has won its first playoff game since 2018 and will travel to third-seeded Yuba City on Friday.

“Just super proud of these girls,” DeBrouwer said. “We have been working toward this goal since the school year started, so it’s rewarding to see the work that we put in pay off.”

Yuba City 12, Lathrop 0 (5)

Seeded 14th in its first-ever postseason appearance, Lathrop (10-13) struggled in every facet against the battle-tested Honkers (18-8-1).

Tori Hernandez pitched the mercy-shortened one-hitter, striking out seven while walking just one. Chloe Gonzales powered the attack, going 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, two runs and four RBIs.