Katelyn Blount drove in five runs, including a bases clearing triple, in the top of the ninth inning to lead Sparta past Trico 7-4 Thursday in nonconference softball action.
The Lady Bulldogs rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the first inning.
“We really came out of the gates and played as poorly as we have all season,” said Sparta coach Roger Gerlach. “The positive is that we never gave up and we got just enough when we needed it.”
After the Lady Bulldogs were held to no runs and just one hit to open the game, Trico quickly jumped on Sparta to take the early lead.
Four consecutive singles aided with a throwing error and two dropped balls set the score at 4-0 and Trico probably should have been ahead by more as the Pioneers still had the bases loaded as the second and third outs were recorded.
Kaylee Boland got the scoring started with an RBI single to score Katie Taylor. Jordan Lodge drew a bases loaded walk to bring home the next run. The Lady Pioneers followed up with back-to-back RBI singles from Chloe Thies and Makayla Hartmann for the 4-0 lead.
The Lady Bulldogs got back in the game in the third inning, scoring three runs on two hits and back-to-back walks to start off the frame.
Blount capped off the three run inning with a double that scored two runs, her first of two clutch two-out hits in the game.
Sparta tied the game 4-4 in the sixth inning as a leadoff walk and another clutch two-out hit came back to haunt Trico. Senior Corrie Opolka came through in the clutch this time with the RBI single.
Playing under international tie-breaker rules, the Lady Bulldogs started off the inning with a runner at second base. Julian Sroka was hit by a pitch before Lodge was able to strike out the next two batters. Another walk loaded the bases and Blount’s triple was the difference in the game.
Jamie Woodworth, Opolka, Alexis Kohrs and Jade Vaughn all had a hit on the day to account for the six hits generated by the Sparta offense.
Kohrs scattered just two hits after that opening inning, allowing seven hits on the day to pick up her fourth win on the season to push the team’s overall record to 6-0.
Lodge was saddled with the loss, giving up seven runs on six hits. Kourtney Bunselmeyer, Cassie Ortiz and Boland all had one hit for Trico.
With the loss, Trico dropped to 3-3 on the season.