Edinburgh softball had two big innings that ended up shortening its first postseason game by the exact same number.
After a slow start, the Lancers scored five and nine runs in its two-inning showcase and pounded out seven hits, including three for extra bases, to blank Waldron, 14-0, in the opener of the Class A Edinburgh Sectional on Monday afternoon.
Edinburgh (14-10) now takes on Morristown (3-16) in a Wednesday semifinal.
It was the second straight beating of Waldron in three days for the Lancers, who won 12-1 in a similar manner on Friday.
“We knew what we were going to see,” Edinburgh coach Ben Taylor said. “Waldron’s growing and they have two pitchers that throw us off balance, and they did that pretty good until we can get our footing.”
It was a bit of an unusual game in that it also counted in the regular season Mid-Hoosier Conference standings, solidifying Edinburgh’s third place in the conference and keeping Waldron fourth.
“We had to push (the conference schedule) around a little bit and this was the only place we could fit it,” Taylor said.
Edinburgh went down in order in the first inning, but used the second to score five runs on just one hit. Waldron pitcher Amanda Brinson issued five walks in that frame, and a bases-loaded triple to right-cener field by Shelby Graham ensured that the Lancers did not waste the free passes.
With a 5-0 lead, Edinburgh’s freshman pitcher MacKenzie Bieker settled down and pretty much controlled the Mohawk batters, scattering five hits while striking out six batters and not allowing a Waldron runner past second base.
In their nine-run fourth inning, the Lancers sent 14 batters to the plate, banged out six hits and erased what little hope the Mohawks were clinging to.
Bieker had the big hit, helping her cause with a three-run home run to left field. Kyah Streeval later followed that up with a two-run double and Graham added to her RBI total of four with a run-scoring single.
Graham was the only Edinburgh batter with two hits, but Gracie Long scored three times and four other Lancers scored twice.
While Taylor was pleased with the overall effort, he did wish the Lancers had waited for better pitches.
“I think sometimes the girls chase a little bit because they want to hit so bad,” Taylor said. “They need to be a little more patient.”
Up now is Morristown, another Mid-Hoosier Conference team that Edinburgh pounded in two regular-season games by a combined score of 35-5.
Despite that, Taylor said the Lancers will not be taking Morristown lightly.
"Not at all," he said. "They are hurt, but I think we’ll struggle for an inning and then we’ll come around.”
