Byron-Bergen scored two runs in both the first and second innings to open up a four-run lead and defeat host Northstar 9-1 in girls’ softball. It marked the Bees third win of the season and second in their last three games entering the Section V playoffs.
Byron-Bergen scored their first run on a wild pitch while senior Hailey Hubbard was drawing a walk to score senior co-captain Rebecca Velasco, who earlier reached on an error. Peyton Mackey then drove in Kelsey Fuller from third on an infield single.
They extended their lead to 4-0 in the second inning as senior co-captain Brittany Rada and senior Jenna Amesbury drew walks before Velasco plated Rada with an RBI single and Dana Vanalkenburg drove in Amesbury on an RBI groundout.
Northstar loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth inning and scored one run on their third hit of the inning before Bees starting pitcher Amesbury retired the next three batters on two strikeouts and a pop to short.
The Bees blew the game open in the sixth as Amesbury reached on a walk and went to second on a passed ball. She advanced to third on a single by Jeanne Denson and scored on Velasco’s RBI single.
After a force out and groundout putting runners at second and third with two outs, Hubbard was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mackey then stroked a single driving in two runs, senior co-captain Kitana Maher followed with an RBI single and the final run scored on a double steal by Maher and Mackey to make it 9-1.
Northstar had at least one runner in scoring position in every inning, but Amesbury recorded ten strikeouts and allowed only four hits to earn the win.
