CONCORDIA -- There won't be a fourth straight I-70 Conference Tournament championship in the offing for the Santa Fe softball team.

The Lady Chiefs can thank senior Jordan Payne and her Concordia teammates for that. Payne tossed a three-hitter, not allowing an earned run or a free pass and striking out 12 batters, to give the host Orioles a 2-1 victory in Wednesday's semifinal round.

Santa Fe had to scratch for its lone run. Freshman Gia Baldwin singled with one out in the second inning, moved to second on a grounder, stole third base and then scored on a passed ball.

Payne only gave up two singles, in separate innings, the rest of the way. Concordia tied the score quickly in the bottom of the second, as junior Ali Schnakenberg singled and came all the way around when senior Charlie Bryson tripled three pitches later.

Freshman Molly Sander struck out the next two batters and threw a scoreless third, but an error on Schnakenberg's grounder to lead off the fourth brought peril. The next two Lady Orioles walked and Payne singled in the go-ahead run, but was stranded along with the rest of the packed sacks when Sander fanned two more batters and got the third out on a fly ball.

However, that was all Concordia needed, Payne striking out the side in the seventh to seal the win.

The Lady Orioles (8-1) will take on cross-town rival St. Paul, a 5-4 winner over Crest Ridge, in Friday's title clash.

Juniors Becca Woodson and Joci Woodson also had singles for Santa Fe (3-7), which will play the Lady Cougars for third place Friday at Alma.