Jay drops OAC opener (04/14/07)

What seemed destined to be a one-run nail-biter got out of hand in a hurry.

One bad play in the fourth inning broke a scoreless tie and Connersville pounded out seven more runs over the next two innings. The visiting Spartans also got a stellar pitching performance from Brittany Crawford for an 8-1 win over Jay County.

Through three innings, the Patriots were hitless. Connersville was not much better, managing only one hit against Shae Keller and getting set down in order in the first and third innings.

But with two outs in the top of the fourth, the Spartans got the break they needed.

On a play that should have ended the inning, Kassie Kendall reached base on an error. That brought up Ronnie Buckler, who turned in what Connersville coach Keith Smith called a "swinging bunt." Planned or not, the effort was effective as the throw from Keller got past first baseman Ashley Bunch and continued down the right-field line.

Kendall came all the way around to score on the play to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead, and Buckler ended up on third as the throw to the plate went over catcher Trisha Champ's head.

"We had the error - a couple of mistakes on that one play - and we just didn't get tough," said JCHS coach Jack Wood. "We kind of ... hung our heads, and then it went through the whole team. We can't afford to do that.

"We just kind of let it get to us and affect us the rest of the game."

After the Patriots went down one-two-three in the bottom of the fourth, sisters Kendra and Kelly Rusterholz opened the fifth inning with back-to-back doubles for Connersville. Jess Bowne and Tasha Bare followed with consecutive singles as the first seven Spartan batters reached base in the inning.

Kendall added an RBI double in the fifth, and Connersville (1-2) scored four more times in the sixth inning thanks to another set of consecutive hits from Kelly Rusterholz, Bowne, Bare and Kate Malone.

"This is the best game we've played so far this year," said Smith. "(Kendra and Kelly Rusterholz) are going to be, once they get their feet under them this year, a good duo there. (Their doubles sparked us), then Tasha Bare got her line drive."

Bare finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Bowne and Kelly Rusterholz each went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI.

Kendall finished with a double, a run and an RBI.

Once Connersville got on the board it was smooth sailing, as the Patriots never figured out Spartan starter Brittany Crawford.

The junior gave up two hits - a double to Champ and a single by Pazia Speed, who scored the Patriots' lone run.

She retired eight consecutive batters during one stretch, including five in a row on strikeouts.

"We weren't aggressive at the plate like we were last game," said Wood, whose team opened with an 11-1 win Tuesday Fort Recovery. "We didn't adjust to (her speed). She tried to keep us outside, and we tried to pull everything. We just weren't mentally ready to play tonight.

"It just comes down to us not being ready to play ball. We hung our heads, and it was over."

Crawford had another stretch retiring five batters in a row, and closed the game with four straight. She struck out nine batters in the game as she earned her first win of the season.

"She's worked at changing her speeds on her fastball," said Smith. "She did a real good job. (Her strength) is moving the ball around."

Shae Keller took the loss to drop to 1-1, giving up eight runs - four earned - on 11 hits. She struck out seven and walked four.[[In-content Ad]]