Softball: Lady Bulldogs bite back at Eureka, win 14-4

ST. IGNATIUS - Eureka started out hot with a four-run first inning but couldn't stop the bats of Mission as the Lady Bulldogs won extended their winning streak to three with a 14-4 victory, shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.

Eureka had the hot bats in the top of the first, getting their scoring from a bevy of singles, however they would relinquish much of the lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a single by Kinley Pope which drove home a run and a home run by Janeal McDonald.

"It felt good," McDonald said of the dinger. "It was just a smooth hit."

Eureka would hold onto the 4-3 lead until the bottom of the third when an error led to Sara Nerby scoring to tie things up and then another error allowed Kinley Pope to score and give the Lady Bulldogs the lead. Eureka appeared to lose some of their composure out on the field and the bleeding continued. Kyla Olson would hit a triple to drive home McDonald and another error led to a score by Bryanna Steele. Jessica Foust would cap off the scoring in the third with a double that drove home Serena Camacho.

"It feels like anybody can get a hit and then everybody gets a hit," McDonald said.

That would make it 9-4 Lady Bulldogs and Eureka could never recover.

Mission-Arlee-Charlo would score three more in the bottom of the fourth. McDonald drove home a run on a single with no outs after Kinley Pope doubled to get into scoring position. A throwing error would led to McDonald scoring and then Camacho grounded out to drive home Olson later in the inning.

Going into the top of the fifth, Mission held the 12-4 lead and forced Eureka to go three up and three down.

In the bottom of the fifth, Pope doubled to drive home a run and then after McDonald reached on an error and Pope moved to third, Olson bunted to bring home Pope and end the game with the 10-run mercy rule.

Mission's pitcher, Olson, allowed just three hits and recorded four strikeouts in the game.

Eureka - 400 - 00 - 14
Mission - 306 - 32 - 4

Mission - 12 hits and no errors. Eureka - three hits and 8 errors.

Lady Bulldogs batting - Loren Erickson 0-4, Sara Nerby 0-3, Kinley Pope 3-4, Janeal McDonald 4-4, Olson 3-4, Bryanna Steele 0-2, Bryanna Steele 0-2, Alyssa Doty 1-3, Serena Camacho 0-1, Jessica Foust 1-2

Doubles - Pope (2), Foust. Triples - Olson. HR - McDonald. RBI - McDonald (4), Olson (3), Pope (2)

Here are some photos from the game...