It took a while for the Benton Rangerettes (2-3) to wake up their bats Tuesday afternoon when they hosted the Wayne City Indians. But when they did, there was no stopping the home team who took an 11-1 victory over the Indians in six innings.
"We got impatient in the first couple of innings… we gave them easy outs," said Ryan Miller, Rangerettes' coach. "We need to be more disciplined at the plate."
Freshman Zoe Carlton got her team started in the third with a leadoff triple into center field. She was brought home by senior Ally Gischer who was called out at first base. After pitcher Kiley Carter popped out, the Rangerettes loaded the bases with Courtney Reno, Lacey Jerkins and Cristen Shaw.
Lindsey Seidel was patient at the plate and waited for a good pitch to swing at. This did not come, so she was walked which brought Reno across the plate. Then, junior Eb Casey pounded a double to left field which brought Jerkins and Shaw home.
Designated hitter Baylie Sawyer cleaned up the bases with a base hit to center which brought around Seidel and Casey. These runs all came with only one out left to end the inning.
The Indians finally did end the inning, but they were not able to catch to home team who's defense stayed strong behind Carter.
"Kiley pitched a great game and our defense did a great job behind her," Miller said. "When your pitcher can throw strikes and defense does well, we just started hitting it and it was easy going from there."
In the bottom of the fourth, the Rangerettes continued to hit the ball well. Gischer started things off with an in-the-park home run. She smashed a line drive which made it all the way to the center field fence. Gischer turned up the gas and dashed her way around the diamond well before the ball was thrown back into the infield.
After being walked, Reno scampered around the diamond and made in home (8-0) after the Indians relief pitcher threw a wild pitch. The Rangerettes again loaded the bases, but all were left stranded as the final out was called.
The home team hoped to earn two more runs in the fifth to end the game early, but the Indians defense would not quit and a sixth inning was force.
There, the visitors got on the board with their solo run thanks to an RBI double. But the home team responded with three more runs to end the game.
Seidel banged a double into center field to bring McKenzie Johnson (pinch running for Shaw) to third base. Then, Casey rocketed and RBI triple into left field which brought Johnson and Seidel home.
With Sawyer at the plate, another wild pitch was thrown and Casey sprinted to home plate. She was called safe and the Rangerettes celebrated their second victory of the season.
"We still have some defensive things to clean up, but we're getting better every day," Miller said. "We're going to fix what needs fixing… I think this will be a very good team by the end of the season."
