Edinburgh got off to a great start early on by getting the timely hits necessary at the plate to build itself an early lead.
The Lancers also posted four more runs as insurance to fend off a quick spurt by Columbus East late to secure a 7-3 season-opening softball win Tuesday over Columbus East.
“The girls came out hot. I thought they hit the ball really well in the beginning,” Edinburgh coach Ben Taylor said. “The (East) pitching was actually pretty good. (Kaylee Smith) looked like she was putting it there like she wanted too, but we got some timely hits on our part to take it.”
For the Olympians (0-2), they picked up their first runs of the game in the sixth inning, and added an additional run in the seventh inning. The Lancers, who were playing their season opener, scored three runs in the first inning and four in the fifth.
“If you take away an inning or two, we’re right there in the ballgame,” East coach Rusty Brummett said. “I do think we took care of a few things. I thought Kaylee Smith came out and battled and kept us in the ballgame early. We talked about in the huddle (after the game), it’s just one or two little plays make you go from good to great.”
Carly Cowan started the rally for Edinburgh in the top of the first with a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single from Kyah Streeval and a throwing error by the Olympians to home plate scored Cowan. Gracie Crawhorn then hit a RBI-triple near the fence in right field, and Catey Streeval hit into a fielder’s choice-RBI to make it an early 3-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Lancers put up four runs on two hits, two walks and an error to extend the lead. Alix Streeval and Kyah Streeval had singles and an RBI-sacrifice-fly from MacKenzie Bieker that was almost a home run made it 7-0 after five innings.
East got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Kaylee Cole drew a walk, and then Kaitlin Brummett reached base on a fielder’s choice. Julia Sitterding hit a sacrifice fly, and an RBI-single from Adisyn Ross cut the deficit to 7-2.
The Olympians added one more run in the seventh when Kenzie Foster hit a two-out triple and then scored on an error.
Crawhorn went 2 for 3 with a triple and double, and Kyah Streeval was 2 for 3 with a double for Edinburgh.
Ross was 2 for 3, and Foster went 1 for 4 with a triple for East’s only three hits.
“We’re battling, we’re fighting and I’m pleased with that. We need somebody to come through with a timely stolen base or a timely play in the outfield,” Brummett said. “If we can take care of the little things, we’ll be OK.”
Bieker, a freshman, earned the win for the Lancers in the circle and gave up two earned runs on three hits, a walk and six strikeouts.
“She did very well, and it was a great first game for her,” Taylor said. “Anytime you’re up against a team like East that can hit the way they can hit, and they can put the ball in play, as well, for MacKenzie to come in the way she did and handle that pressure, she pulled through good. She stayed under control, she had a pretty good temperament through the game. She had a great game and pitched very well.”
