Bellefontaine was offensive — in a good way.
The Lady Chieftains defeated Tecumseh 19-9 in five innings at Blue Jacket Park on Monday evening, getting back to action after rain disrupted the schedule.
They are now 1-1 in Central Buckeye Conference play and 3-4 overall.
Leading the way for Bellefontaine was senior catcher Laila Butler. Butler, who has committed to playing at the next level for Alcorn State, had five hits and drove in three runs, including the one that ended the contest.
Getting the win was freshman Joy Fogan. Fogan helped her own cause plenty, getting four hits, including a double, driving in four runs.
Chloe Heminger and Ava Watson each had a double, while both Airiana Young and Ava Dolan had two hits and a walk. Bellefontaine had 21 total hits on the night.
Watson drove in four runs, Heminger two, and Young got one RBI. Andie Eicher also drove in three runs.
Fogan got the victory, pitching all five frames, allowing nine runs on nine hits. She walked five and struck out six.
Coach Katie Buffkin said, “The girls hit really well. I was proud of them. (Our issue) has been trying to get the runs in. They put up 19 today so I can’t really ask for more.”
She noted that Fogan was returning after missing time due to injury. “As a freshman, I thought she did a nice job on the mound tonight for us.”
For the Lady Arrows, Amerie Matthews started and went 1 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs. Miranda Parker took over, and went the rest of the way, giving up 10 runs. Matthews walked four and Parker got one strikeout.
Tecumseh got one run in the first on a single by Corryn Beard. The Lady Chiefs got hits by Butler and Wical, but left them aboard.
Fogan retired Tecumseh in order in the top of the second, the only time that happened in the contest for either side.
She led off the bottom half with a single up the middle. Jayden Alinson went in to run.
Watson and Heminger drew walks to load the bases. Eichel’s single drove in Alinson.
Prine then reached on a fielder’s choice, as Tecumseh tried and failed to get the out at the plate, with Watson scoring.
A walk to Young forced in Heminger, making it 3-1.
Butler lashed a double to center, scoring two more. After a popout by Wical, Dolan walked to load the bases again.
Starting a second trip through the lineup, Fogan singled to add to the lead.
Tecumseh then brought Parker to the circle. A passed ball allowed Butler to dash home.
Hits by Watson and Heminger followed, pushing the lead to 9-1. Eicher grounded out, but another off target throw allowed two runs to come in.
Tecumseh fought back in the top of the third, scoring five runs on three hits.
In the Bellefontaine half, Young and Butler singled to center. Two batters later, Dolan beat out an infield hit to load the bases.
Fogan sent a ball along the first base line that stayed fair by inches, scoring two runs. Watson belted one to the alley in left-center, plating two more. Heminger kept the string going with another two-bagger, putting one more up and restoring the double-digit lead at 16-6.
Three hits by Tecumseh in the top of the fourth produced one run. A sac fly by Jill Evans got one more, but a nice throw from the outfield got out number three at second base.
After Tecumseh got Young out to start the bottom of the fourth, Butler singled past first. Tecumseh got a second out, but the Chiefs got a hit by Dolan to left, then one by Fogan to drive in Butler and one to left-center by Watson to plate Wical.
Tecumseh managed one run in the top of the fifth, bringing the gap back to nine runs.
The Arrows retired the first two Bellefontaine hitters as they looked to get another chance at the plate.
Prine reached on a fielding error, then stole second. Young hit a grounder to shortstop. The fielder made sure Prine stayed put, but by the time she threw over, Young had reached first base safely.
Butler then knocked one through the left side of the infield, scoring Prine to trigger the 10-run rule.
The teams will meet again on Wednesday, with Tecumseh playing host. Game time is 5 p.m.
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In other softball action Monday:
Ben Logan 11, North Union 3
Ben Logan defeated host North Union in CBC Mad River action.
The Lady Raiders scored six runs in the fourth and five runs in the seventh.
Adilynne Gregg pitched five innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits. She walked two and struck out five.
Chloe Crumm worked two shutout innings, allowing four hits.
Keeli Rostorfer and Rylan Norviel each had three hits and two RBIs. Skylar Miracle had two hits and an RBI.
Crumm, Lilly Kerns and Bryleigh Burnside each had two hits. Crumm and Burnside drove in two each.
Ben Logan (2-0 CBC, 5-1 overall) hosts North Union on Wednesday.
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Shawnee 6, Indian Lake 1
Indian Lake lost to visiting Shawnee in CBC Mad River play.
The Lady Lakers are now 0-1 in the conference and 2-2 overall.
They were held to four hits, with the one run coming in the fourth.
Shawnee got two in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the sixth,
Mackenzie Dixon had a double, with Abigail Elliot getting the RBI.
Bre Wisener pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on four hits, with three strikeouts and four walks. Halle Roby threw 2 1/3 innings, surrendering one run on four hits.
Indian Lake hosts Kenton Ridge today, then visits Shawnee Wednesday.
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West Liberty-Salem 6, Triad 2
West Liberty-Salem defeated visiting Triad in a Ohio Heritage Conference North battle.
The Lady Tigers are now 1-2 in the OHC and 2-3 overall. Triad falls to 0-3, both in conference and in all games.
In the third inning, Triad scored twice, with WL-S answering with three runs. The Lady Tigers then got one in the fourth and two in the fifth, keeping Triad off the board the rest of the night.
Kiersten Stoll, Kennedy Wallace, and Teagan Boyd each got two hits for West Liberty-Salem. Wallace and Audrey Collins each had a double.
Driving in runs were Stoll, Wallace, Kaylee Blair, Boyd and Taylor Cook.
Wallace got the victory, allowing seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.
For the Lady Cardinals, Haillei Jenkins hit a two-run homer.
Makahla Thuman was the losing pitcher, going 4 2/3 innings, with four runs on seven hits and three walks.
Finishing up was Kaydee Roberts, who allowed two runs on two hits. Each pitcher had two strikeouts.
The teams will clash again today, this time at Triad.