Chaffee softball team edges Saxony Lutheran

The Chaffee girls softball team jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning, but the Red Devils needed a pair of passed balls in the sixth inning to score the decisive run in a 4-3 victory over visiting Saxony Lutheran on Tuesday.

The Red Devils (6-6) wasted little time in getting to Crusaders starter Kelly Brunke, pushing across two runs before an out was recorded. Leadoff batter Bridgette Swinford reached on an error, stole second and took third on a single by Madeline Hendrix. Sydney Walker, Chaffee's No. 3 hitter, then ripped a two-run double. Walker later scored on an RBI groundout by Hannah Seyer to stake starting pitcher Carleigh Burnett to a 3-0 lead.

"We came out and really hit the ball well," Chaffee coach A.J. Horn said.

Burnett held Saxony (7-5) scoreless for three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth. Logan Welker led off with a single and scored on and RBI triple by Grace Mirly, who later came home on an RBI groundout by Brunke.

The Crusaders pulled even in the fifth when a pair of Chaffee errors led to an unearned run.

Chaffee reliever Hannah Seyer pitches to a Saxony Lutheran batter during the seventh inning Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 in Chaffee, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

"Saxony, they had the momentum, but I was real proud of our kids," Horn said. "They kept playing."

Swinford led off the bottom of the fifth with a single off Mirly -- she took over in the third inning -- stole second and came around on a pair of passed balls.

Seyer, who relieved Burnett with two outs in the fifth, pitched around a one-out double by Courtney Kester in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

"The main thing is our kids just kept playing throughout the game," Horn said. "They played through the bad breaks and came out on top."

Seyer allowed two hits and struck out three over 2 1/3 innings. She walked one.

Chaffee first baseman Carlie Milz fields a bunted ball to throw out Saxony Lutheran batter Hannah Meyr during the fifth inning Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 in Chaffee, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Brunke allowed five hits and three runs -- one earned -- in two innings, while Mirly was the tough-luck loser, allowing just one hit in four innings, striking out five and walking two.

Walker also had triple for Chaffee in going 2 for 2. The Red Devils finished with six hits.

Welker had two hits for Saxony, which ended with five hits.

Chaffee 4, Saxony Lutheran 3 Saxony 000 210 0 -- 3 5 3

Chaffee 300 010 X -- 4 6 4

WP -- Hannah Seyer. LP -- Grace Mirly. 3B -- Sydney Walker (C), Grace Mirly (SL). 2B -- Sydney Walker (C), Courtney Kester (SL). Multiple hits -- Chaffee: Sydney Walker 2-2; Saxony Lutheran: Logan Welker 2-4.