BRIDGEPORT – The Buckhannon-Upshur softball Lady Bucs capitalized on 14 Bridgeport errors and used a seven-run seventh inning to pull away with a 15-3 victory over the Indians in their Region I, Section 2 opener Friday evening.
“It was nice having our girls focused on the task at hand,” remarked Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Levi Bender. “Hopefully we can continue to play like this moving forward.”
B-U took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Alyssa Abel led off the game with a single and later scored on a single by Jansen Kimble.
B-U made it a 3-0 contest in the top of the third when Abel scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Kailey Hart and Hart scored on a sacrifice fly by Reagan Mason.
Bridgeport made it a 3-1 game with a run in the bottom of the third but the Lady Bucs responded with two runs in the top of the fourth when Sophie Lantz singled and scored on an error and Abel tripled and scored on a single by Taylor Spratt making it a 5-1 game.
Buckhannon-Upshur chased across three more runs in the top of the sixth when Abel hit a one-run triple and Abel and Spratt scored on errors upping their lead to 8-1.
The Lady Bucs sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the top of the seventh blowing the game wide open with a 15-1 advantage.
Bridgeport wrapped up the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Buckhannon-Upshur pounded out 12 hits with Abel leading the way with four while Kimble and Reese Curry each had two.
“Abel led us with two big triples,” noted Bender. “As a team, we kept having good at-bats and chipped runs across throughout the game.”
Kimble pitched all seven innings for the Lady Bucs getting the win.
All three Bridgeport runs were unearned as she gave up eight hits while striking out three.
“Kimble was really in control of the game,” said Bender. “She didn’t give up an earned run while scattering out eight hits.”
The win improved the Lady Bucs to 10-9 on the season.
They were slated to play University Monday evening in the winner’s bracket.
The boxscore:
Buckhannon-Upshur 102 203 7 – 15
Bridgeport 001 000 2 – 3
E – Buckhannon-Upshur 4; Bridgeport 14. DP – None. LoB – Buckhannon-Upshur 7; Bridgeport 11. 2B – Curry, Pugh. 3B – Abel 2. SF – Mason. SB – Abel.
Hitting
Buckhannon-Upshur – Alyssa Abel c, 5 4 4 1; Taylor Spratt 3b, 5 2 1 3; Kailey Hart 1b, 4 2 0 1; Jansen Kimble p, 5 0 2 1; Reagan Mason ss, 4 1 1 2; Reese Curry cf, 5 1 2 2; Quinn Burnside eh 5 0 0 0; Shaylee Hebb rf, 0 1 0 0; Katarah Linger 2b, 4 2 1 0; Sophie Lantz lf, 4 2 1 0; Emily Bacorn 0 0 0 0. Totals 41 15 12 10.
Bridgeport – Rachel Mason 3b, 4 1 2 0; Chloe Pethel p, 4 2 1 0; Maddie Garner cf, 0 0 0; Kileigh Pugh c, 4 0 1 1; Kaitlyn Archer-Lewis lf, 3 0 1 0; Sadie Hamrick 1b, 4 0 1 0; Addison Veigel ss, 4 0 0 0; Kyleigh Anderson 2b, 3 0 1 0; No. 10 2b, 1 0 0 0; Maddie Stallman rf, 1 0 0 0; Mackenzi Mathney rf, 2 0 1 0; Brie Stoneking 0 0 0 0. Totals 33 3 8 1.
Pitching
Buckhannon-Upshur – Kimble (W): 7 innings, 8 hits, 3 runs, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts.
Bridgeport – Pethel (L): 7 innings, 12 hits, 15 runs 4 earned runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts.
