Jackson softball team grabs early lead, beats Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- With her team hovering around the .500 mark, Jackson coach Ashley Litzelfelner watched her Indians scratch out an immediate lead against Sikeston.

Hitting on all cylinders is exactly what any coach wants to open a game, but it's even better when the regular season is dwindling down.

Jackson plated three runs in the top of the first inning which set the tone for a 6-2 victory over Sikeston Monday at the Sikeston Sports Complex.

"Our bats are coming around and we're starting to hit the ball really well," Litzelfelner said. "At this point in the season, that's what you ask. They came out and did it today. That's what you want and that's what we need to see."

Jackson starter Sicily Johnston went the distance, striking out seven and allowing two runs on six hits for the win. Her counterpart, Sikeston's Kylie Noe, was tagged for the loss. She pitched seven innings, allowing six hits. Just two of Jackson's six runs were earned due to six errors by the Bulldogs' defense.

Jackson (9-9) busted out of the gate with back-to-back singles by Sophie Wunderlich and MacKenzie Bartels to start the game. After a double by Mallorie Maintz scored Wunderlich, a two-out, infield error by Sikeston allowed two more runs to cross for a 3-0 advantage.

The Indians added two more runs in the third for a 5-0 lead.

Johnston, along with a solid Jackson defense, stranded seven runners in the first four innings.

"She pitched strong today," Litzelfelner said. "She threw what she needed and worked with her catch really well."

Sikeston (6-12) pushed its first run across in the fifth inning after Katie Hampton's second single of the afternoon. Hampton later scored on a bases loaded walk to Jorgia Aters, but the inning ended after a pickoff when Madeline Witt was caught too far off second.

"Our defense has been strong," said Litzelfelner. "We have a pretty strong infield with a lot of options on our team. We have girls that can play in a lot of different places. A lot of strengths are with our defense. We have defensive intelligence when it comes to where to go and how to play the game."

Jackson 302 010 0 -- 6 6 1

Sikeston 000 011 0 -- 2 6 6

WP -- Sicily Johnston. LP -- Kylie Noe. 2B -- Mallorie Maintz (J), Kayli Speakman (J), Ashton Drake (S). Multiple hitters -- Jackson: Speakman 2-4; Sikeston: Katie Hampton 2-4, Drake 2-3.