By Cort Reynolds
MT. BLANCHARD - Visiting Ada lost 8-4 to Riverdale in a non-conference softball game Tuesday evening.
The Lady Bulldogs fell to 5-3 overall with the loss that snapped a three-game win streak. Riverdale improved to 8-1 with the victory.
Ada senior Leona Dalton doubled home two runs in the top of the first inning to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
But the Falcons plated three runs in the third to take a 3-2 edge.
A leadoff Dalton single in the top of the fourth was followed by Alexis Waugh and Katie Sizemore both getting hit by a pitch. Two passed balls and a hit by Kayla Wince helped Ada regain the lead, 4-3.
Riverdale recaptured the advantage in the fifth on a walk, followed by an Alyssa McCloud single and a Bulldog error. Senior Alyson Greer singled in two runs to give the hosts the lead for good, 5-4.
Junior ace hurler Alison Donaugh relieved for Riverdale and pitched two scoreless innings with five strikeouts to earn the save. The hard thrower allowed a double to senior catcher Waugh.
In the home sixth, Riverdale padded its lead with three runs in the sixth.
"Riverdale is a pretty strong team," said Ada head coach Rebecca Dicke. "We did not hit well; six hits is not going to win against a team like Riverdale.
"The six errors we made hurt and they took advantage of some of our bunt coverages," she added. "Donaugh threw pretty fast."
Dalton gave up nine hits and two walks, and allowed four earned runs. She led the Bulldog offense with a double, two singles and a pair of RBI in three at bats.
Senior Tori Green added a single for the Bulldogs. Junior Lainie Howell hit two singles for the Falcon girls. Shortstop/reliever Donaugh tripled in the first inning, and later singled in the sixth.
Ada struck out 11 times, while Riverdale whiffed nine times.
123 456 7 R H E
Ada 200 200 0 4 6 6
Rdl 003 023 x 8 9 1
WP-McCloud LP-Dalton (5-3)
Save-Donaugh
2B-Dalton (A), Waugh (A)
3B-Donaugh (R)
Ada resumes conference play at home vs. backyard rival Allen East (8-4, 1-0 NWC) Thursday, April 15 at 5 p.m.
AE run-ruled Delphos Jefferson 13-3 Monday in a league tilt. The Mustang girls then blew out Waynesfield 23-6 Tuesday evening.
"It is a big league game and they have been playing pretty well accoridng to their record," said Dicke. "If we can get solid defense and consistent hitting we will be competitive."
Ada hosts Ridgemont Friday and visits USV with Botkins in a triangular doubleheader Saturday at 10 a.m. and noon.
BASEBALL
The visiting Ada baseball team dropped a seesaw 10-9 slugfest to Riverdale in non-conference play Tuesday night.
Ada's record dropped to 2-4 overall with the defeat. Riverdale improved to 6-3 with the victory.
The Bulldogs jumped to a 3-0 lead before the Falcons tallied five runs in the home second.
Ada tied it 6-6 in the fourth and took a brief 7-6 advantage with a run in the top of the fifth.
Riverdale regained a 10-7 lead with two runs in the home fifth and two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Ada plated two runs in the top of the seventh frame, but came up just a run short.
Sophomore Spencer Wall paced the Bulldog offense with two singles, a double and a triple. He also scored three runs.
Riverdale out-hit Ada, 12-8. The Bulldogs committed five errors to three by the Falcons.
123 456 7 R H E
Ada 120 310 2 9 8 5
Rdl 051 022 x 10 12 3
WP-Young LP-Phipps
2B-Wall (A)
3B-Wall (A)
Ada hosts backyard rival Allen East (8-3, 1-0 NWC) Thursday evening.
AE whipped Delphos Jefferson 10-1 Monday evening in league baseball action. The Mustangs then blanked Waynesfield 16-0 Tuesday evening.
