A five-run second inning by Floyd Central helped hand the Columbus East its first loss of the season in its home-opener.
The Highlanders got on base with 11 hits on their way to beating the Olympians 10-1 in the Hoosier Hills Conference opener. Floyd Central scored its sixth run in the fourth inning followed by two more in the fifth and two in the sixth.
East coach Rusty Brummett said he is never happy with a loss, but liked the effort from his players.
“The effort was really good,” Brummett said. “I was real pleased with the way we started the ball game, obviously shutting them down quick in the first inning.”
Abby Letson pitching six strikeouts in the first four innings for the Highlanders (4-4, 1-0) while not allowing a hit. Madyson Foster had the first hit for the Olympians (2-1, 0-1) off pitcher Madison Wathen with a single in the sixth. Brooke Valles reached on another single, and Foster scored East’s lone run on a groundout by Kendra Pastrick.
Kamryn Cantu had the Olympians’ third and final hit with a single in the seventh inning.
“Our girls never quit,” Brummett said. “When you’re down 10-0, it’s easy to just fold up and go home, and we scratched and got a run and was able to play another inning, so I like that.”
East’s Jordan Johnston pitched all seven innings and finished with three strikeouts and four walks.
“(Johnston) pitched really well,” Brummett said. “A couple missed spots, and those girls are going to make you pay. We had a couple errors behind her that didn’t help, but Jordan played pretty well.”
