OTTUMWA — Ali Downing wanted this one.

The seventh-ranked Ottumwa Bulldog softball squad is now one game away from its 24th state tournament appearance after a 3-1 victory over rival Oskaloosa on Saturday night.

Ottumwa (37-11) plays Burlington (35-9) at Huston Field at 7 p.m. tonight in the regional final. The winner goes to state.

The Class 4A, Region 5 semifinal between Osky and Ottumwa didn’t lack for energy or enthusiasm. The two squads have met for three consecutive years in the postseason.

For the Bulldogs, it’s just what the doctor ordered or more specifically, what the doctor didn’t have to do.

Downing — who pitched in the same scenario two seasons ago when the Bulldogs made state in ‘05 — broke her arm in the semifinal battle versus the Indians.

This time there was no break —literally — for the Indians.

Downing — a second-team all-state selection last season — allowed just two hits and one earned run in the third inning. She cruised from there and retired 11 batters in a row until the final inning.

“We just really wanted this game bad. I knew I had to focus down and just get ‘em,” said Downing, a senior. “Everybody was fired up and we were ready to go. We knew we had to go get them right off the bat.”

That they did.

Ottumwa’s offensive attack was led by Downing’s triplet sister Karie, who went 3-4 and knocked in Ottumwa’s first run.

“What a hitter Karie Downing is. We threw everything at her. We tried everything there was in the book with our two pitchers. She’s just a very disciplined hitter and a very fine ball player,” said Oskaloosa head coach Jay Harms.

Karie — a first-team all-state selection herself, talked about the satisfying win.

“We got people to hit when we needed to and I think we played an overall good game in the field too,” said Downing, who plays first base.

Downing wasn’t at all understated in what she wanted in the remaining last few weeks of her prep athletic career — a state berth and a trip to Fort Dodge.