By Cort Reynolds

ADA - The Ada softball team scored two runs in their last at bat to nip county rival Hardin Northern 6-5 Monday evening in an exciting season-opener at the local park.

HN had plated two runs in the top of the seventh with the aid of a one-out throwing error to take their first lead of the game, 5-4.

But Bulldog Raina England opened the home seventh with a ringing double over the left fielder's head. Alexis Ennis then stroked a two-strike single to center field.

England scampered toward home with the tying run and was safe when the throw from outfielder Ashton Dye glanced off Polar Bear catcher Madison Robson's glove as Ennis advanced to second base.

Olivia Alexander then beat out a nice bunt up the first base line and stole second to give Ada runners on second and third with nobody out.

Kaiti Newland clinched the victory when she drilled a long fly into right-center field that fell in just out of the hustling Dye's reach to drive in Ennis with the winning run.

"We just found a way to win," said second-year Ada head coach Troy Erickson. "We have girls who compete and know how to win.

"We have a lot of girls playing out of their normal positions, but we made the routine plays. We still have to execute better.
Raina had a big double to lead off the seventh," he noted.

Ada jumped to an early lead by plating three first-inning runs. Alexander singled to lead off, followed by a Newland walk. After a wild pitch, Maddie Gossard stroked a two-run double.

She then scored on an RBI groundout by Sidney Gossard. The hosts added a run in the second frame when Ennis singled and scored for a 4-0 bulge.

HN climbed back into the battle with a three-run third inning. Shortstop Shelby Alloway lined a double off the base of the left field wall to start the rally. Dye pulled a sharp single through the hole into left field, and stole second to put runners on second and third.

After a groundout, Lady Bear Robson walked to load the bases. Maddie Gossard struck out Holly Wilson to record the second out.

Cass Deckling drew a bases-loaded RBI walk to cut the deficit to 4-1. Right fielder Danielle Miller then slammed a double off the left field fence to drive in Dye and Robson.

However, a good relay throw by shortstop Alexander cut down the potential tying run at the plate as catcher Sydney Newland applied the tag to a sliding Deckling to keep Ada on top, 4-3.

Maddie Gossard drilled a home run over the right-center field wall to open the Bulldog third, but her run was waved off when the umpires ruled she missed first base while rounding the bases.

In the top of the fourth, HN threatened to tie. With two outs Alloway walked and Dye beat out an infield grounder to short despite a diving back-handed stop by Alexander.

However, Gossard escaped damage by retiring Bailee Waller on a fly out to center fielder Teara Coulson.

In the Ada fourth Ennis punched a two-out single to short right-center field and stole second, but she was stranded.

In the Bear fifth, the visitors again threatened. Wilson and Deckling walked, and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position.

With two out, Zoey Curtis hit a slow roller past Gossard. But Alexander came in and made a nice play to retire the side and preserve the slim lead.

In the Bulldog fifth, the first two batters went out on one-pitch at bats. Gossard then slammed a ball into the outfield gap, but was called out at second trying to stretch it into a double.

In the HN sixth, HN hurler Quinn Stewart-Evans walked and Alloway lined out to Sidney Gossard at second. Evans was then caught stealing on a throw from southpaw backstop Newland to Gossard, who fielded the short hop nicely and put the tag on the runner.

Ada went out in order in the bottom of the sixth to set up the dramatic final inning. After a leadoff strikeout in the top of the Bear seventh, Robson walked. Wilson grounded to third base, and in their eagerness to get a game-ending double play, Ada threw the ball wide past second base and into right-center field.

By the time the Bulldogs hurried the ball back in, the game was tied 4-4 and Wilson was standing on third. Deckling then blooped a single just over the head of Alexander to bring in Wilson with the lead run.

Gossard maintained her composure and retired Miller on a grounder to shortstop. She got Curtis on a liner to center field to keep the deficit at one run, down 5-4.

"Maddie pitched pretty well, especially after throwing for the first time in four years," said Erickson. "I told her there was no pressure, and she held it together."

Ada then put together its clutch two-run seventh inning rally without making a single out to record the walk-off win.

Ennis knocked out three hits to pace the 10-hit Bulldog offense. Maddie Gossard drove in two runs on two hits. "Maddie really crushed the ball," said Erickson. "She is seeing the ball well and I look for her to have a big year."

Alexander recorded two hits and scored once. Third sacker England also had a double, single and scored twice. Kaiti Newland drove in two runs with a hit and scored once.

"Olivia did a great job in the field and at the plate," said Erickson. "Sidney Gossard hit the ball hard, too."

Dye topped HN with three hits, a run and an RBI. Miller plated two runs on a pair of hits. Alloway singled, walked and scored a run. Robson scored twice and Wilson tallied one run.

Gossard scattered eight hits over seven innings to record the complete-game win. She allowed four earned runs, struck out four and walked seven Bears.

Northern (0-1) left eight on base compared to five by Ada.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
HN 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 5 8 0
Ada 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 6 10 1
WP-Gossard (1-0)
LP-Stewart-Evans (0-1)
2B-England (A), Gossard (A), Ennis (A), Curtis (HN), Miller (HN), Alloway (HN)

Ada (1-0) visits Arcadia Tuesday, and hosts Cory-Rawson Thursday in a pair of NWC vs. BVC battles.

"Kaiti Newland will get the ball (to pitch)," said Erickson of his junior southpaw. "Arcadia hits the ball well."