SEYMOUR – The top of the batting order was in tip-top shape for Bedford North Lawrence.
The first four hitters in the lineup did major damage, combining for 11 hits, 10 runs scored and 8 RBIs as the Stars cruised to an 11-3 victory over Trinity Lutheran on Friday afternoon.
Tori Nikirk was 3 for 4 with four runs scored as the catalyst, Ava Ratliff belted two doubles and scored three times, Kendall Graves had two hits and 3 RBIs, and Macee Nicholson cleaned up as the cleanup hitter with three hits and 4 RBIs.
“I’m really proud of the effort,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “We had some tired kids (following the 11-inning battle with Jasper on Thursday night). We’ll take the 15 hits and the win.”
BNL, rushed a little in preparation as the game time was moved up to beat the approaching weather, scored four runs in the first as Nicholson cranked a two-run double. Nicholson added a two-run single in the second, and Graves stroked a two-run single in the fourth.
”We started well,” Gilbert said. “We were ready to go. It was a night our girls usually don’t like, where they have to get off the bus and play quickly, so it was nice to see them ready to hit.”
Ratliff had a run-scoring double and Graves singled in the final run in the seventh.
Karsyn Coleman earned the win in the circle. She gave up a lead-off home run to Grace Lance in the first, and a two-run homer to Zoey Delaney in the sixth. Sophia Jewell worked the seventh in relief during her first varsity pitching appearance.
“Karsyn settled down and pitched really well,” Gilbert said. “She popped the glove, we just need her to keep hitting her spots. It was a good outing.”
BNL improved to 19-9. The Stars are now one win away from the 10th 20-win season in program history and the sixth in the last 10 years.
“There were a lot of people who thought we might take our lumps this year,” Gilbert said. “But we knew, if we played like we’re capable, we had a chance at a 20-win season.”
The Stars will visit Northeast Dubois on Monday.
