HASTINGS, Neb. — Wahoo’s players and coaches had a year to think about taking a different approach against Friend ace Krista Menke.

Instead of swinging at everything the North Dakota State recruit threw at them, as they did last year at the Class C softball tournament, the Warriors took a more disciplined approach at the plate.

It paid off for top-ranked Wahoo in its 3-0 winners bracket victory Thursday at the Smith Softball Complex.

“We did what we needed to do at the plate,” Wahoo coach Trina Christen said. “We’ve been playing better than I hoped or thought we would.”

The overachieving Warriors (25-2) are one win away from their first state softball title.

Friend will face Ashland-Greenwood in an elimination game at 12:30 p.m., with the winner playing Wahoo for the title at 3 p.m. If Wahoo loses that game, a second would be played to determine the champion.

Ashland-Greenwood defeated Cass County Central 4-2 to end the Crush’s storybook appearance in its first state tournament. The co-op of Louisville and Weeping Water defeated No. 1 seed Wayne in the opening round, then dropped into the losers bracket after losing to Wahoo.

The Crush eliminated St. Paul 8-4 before falling to the Bluejays, who have eliminated Wayne, Fillmore Central and Cass County as they try to get to the championship game for the first time since 2004.

Wahoo scored its three runs in the third inning, all with two outs.

Four consecutive hits by catcher Paige Otte (double), Mattie Murren (single), Morgan Hancock (double) and Aubrey Voboril (single) produced the runs. It was the only opening Menke gave the Warriors, but it was all they needed as Voboril was just as effective in the circle for Wahoo.

Voboril limited Friend to two hits and had eight strikeouts.

“Her curve is working well, her change is working well,’’ Christen said. “They were a little off-balance.”

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