COLUMBUS
Edinburgh got off to a great start early on, getting the timely hits necessary at the plate to build itself an early lead.
The Lancers later posted four more runs as insurance to fend off a late spurt by East and secure a 7-3 season-opening softball win Tuesday over Columbus East.
“The girls came out hot. I thought they hit the ball really well in the beginning,” Edinburgh coach Ben Taylor said. “The (East) pitching was actually pretty good. (Kaylee Smith) looked like she was putting it there like she wanted too, but we got some timely hits on our part to take it.”
Columbus East (0-2) picked up its first runs of the game in the sixth inning, and added an additional run in the seventh after Edinburgh (1-0) scored with three runs in the first inning and four in the fifth inning.
Carly Cowan started the rally for the Lancers in the top of the first with a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single from Kyah Streeval and a throwing error by the Olympians to home plate scored Cowan. Gracie Crawhorn then hit an RBI triple right near the fence in right field, and Catey Streeval drove in a run with a fielder’s choice to make it an early 3-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Lancers put up four more runs on two hits, two walk and an error to extend the lead. Alix Streeval and Kyah Streeval had singles and a sacrifice RBI from MacKenzie Bieker that was almost a home run to make it 7-0 after five innings.
East got on the board in the bottom of the sixth as Kaylee Cole drew a walk, and then Kaitlin Brummett reached base on a fielder’s choice. Julia Sitterding hit a sacrifice fly, and an RBI single from Adisyn Ross cut the deficit to 7-2. The Olympians added one more run in the seventh when Kenzie Foster hit a two-out triple and then scored on an error.
Crawhorn went 2 for 3 with a triple and double, and Kyah Streeval was 2 for 3 with a double for the Lancers.
Bieker, a freshman, earned the win for Edinburgh in the circle. She gave up two earned runs and struck out six while allowing three hits and a walk.
“She did very well, and it was a great first game for her,” Taylor said of Bieker. “Anytime you’re up against a team like East that can hit the way they can hit, and they can put the ball in play as well. For MacKenzie to come in the way she did and handle that pressure, she pulled through good. She stayed under control, she had a pretty good temperament through the game. She had a great game and pitched very well.”