KINGWOOD – After getting just one hit and shutout in their opener against Lincoln on Monday, the Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Bucs had no offensive shortage against the Preston Knights in a 20-3 demolition Wednesday evening in Kingwood in Big 10 Conference softball action.

The Lady Bucs pounded out 17 hits in just three innings as the game was stopped on the mercy rule as they evened their record to 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big 10 Conference.

“It was a good bounce back game for us,” remarked Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Levi Bender. “We didn’t really come out with much energy from the start and actually came out of the first inning trailing. A walk (Mason) and a bunt single (Linger) really broke things open for us. Sometimes the littlest actions can break the dam in softball. I thought we really responded well to the adversity and the lack of energy we had in the first inning. It’s a really nice indication moving forward especially with such a young team.”

Alyssa Abel, who hit a three-run home run in the top of the third for the Lady Bucs remarked, “We aren’t where we need to be but we’re going to keep improving. Today’s game showed our bond as a team and through that we will continue to grow. I thought our offense showed its strengths and our lineup today was much different but that showcased our versatility.”

Kailey Hart gave the Lady Bucs a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when she drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on a single by Abel.

Preston’s Samantha Carrico hit a two-run single in the bottom of the first to give the Knights a 2-1 lead, but it was all Buckhannon-Upshur after that.

B-U sent 14 batters to the plate in the second inning scoring nine runs with the big hits coming from Hart who tripled and Taylor Spratt who doubled.

That gave the Lady Bucs a 10-2 advantage.

Buckhannon-Upshur chased across 10 runs in the top of the third with the inning being highlighted by Abel’s three-run blast and Katarah Linger hitting a two-run double.

Preston scored the game’s final run on a ground out RBI by Myla Wotring.

Spratt and Linger led the offense with three hits while Jansen Kimble, Hart, Abel, Quinn Burnside each had two.

“From the start of the game we were squaring up pitches,” noted Bender. “Our girls hit line drives consistently, battled in counts and capitalized on opportunities. It’s always a good day when every starter ends up with a hit, while the top five hitters had two. Taylor went 3-4 with a big bases clearing double; Katarah was 3-3. Kailey had a big triple going 2-2. And obviously Alyssa, who no doubt, her blast put the dagger in the game.”

Hart tossed all three innings to get the win, allowing three earned runs on just one hit while fanning four.

“Kailey pitched well in her first outing,” said Bender. “She commanded a low zone and had a few strikeouts in her first career start and win for Buckhannon-Upshur. Her battery mate Emily Bacorn, made her debut as well. So congrats to both young ladies on their first career wins.”

The Lady Bucs will be back in action Thursday visiting North Marion with the first pitch being at 5:30 p.m.