By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The host Ada softball team swept Arlington in a doubleheader as workhorse sophomore hurler Leona Dalton won both contests with complete-game efforts Saturday.
The Lady Bulldogs improved to 4-4 with the sweep on an unseasonably warm day.
Dalton twirled a one-hitter in the opener, a 10-1 Ada win. In the nightcap, the Bulldogs rolled to an 11-4 victory.
Senior center fielder Alexis Ennis rapped out four hits to spark Ada from the leadoff spot in the game one win. She also scored a run and drove in one run.
Sidney Gossard collected two hits and scored three runs. Brenna George rapped out two hits, scored twice and batted in a pair of runs.
Lexi White added one RBI, while Aubrey Madison and Raina England each scored a run.
Ada jumped ahead with a five-run second inning and was never threatened as Dalton stymied the Red Devil offense. The Bulldogs put the game out of reach with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth frame.
Janay Helms scored the lone Devil run in the top of the fourth frame. Abbie Sheets got the only Arlington hit (a single) off Dalton, who struck out 10 and walked only one in her pitching gem. The only run the Devils scored was unearned.
Amber Durliat took the pitching loss after scattering 10 hits over six innings. Half of the 10 runs Ada tallied were earned. The Bulldogs left five runners on base compared to three stranded by Arlington.
Game1 123 456 7 R H E
Rmnt 000 100 0 1 1 4
Ada 052 300 x 10 10 3
WP-Dalton (3-3) LP-Durliat
In the nightcap, Ada broke open a 4-4 tie with seven runs in the fifth inning to pull away and register an 11-4 victory.
Arlington scored a run in the top of the first frame, but Ada matched it in the home half. England singled to center field and scored on a double to left field off the bat of catcher Alexis Waugh.
The Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Gossard walked and came around to score on a wild pitch.
Dalton retired nine straight Devil batters until Sheets drilled a game-tying solo home run over the left field fence in the fourth. Arlington then took the lead on an error, a walk and an RBI single from Kylee Geisinger.
Ada responded with two runs in the home fourth to regain the lead, 4-3. Dalton roped a single to center and stole second base. Gossard sliced a single to right-center field to drive in Dalton and tie it 3-3.
Aubrey Madison then beat out a bunt. Lexi White scratched out an infield hit, and Gossard broke the tie by sliding home on a wild pitch.
In the Devil fifth, a walk and an error on a sacrifice bunt allowed Sarah Solt to score all the way from first base to tie it, 4-4. Dalton recovered to retire the last two batters on a pop-out and a soft liner to George at second.
In the bottom of the fifth, Ada erupted for seven big runs to bust it open. Sophomore Kiersten Cortez started the rally with a sharp single to left field. Waugh stroked a solid single to center, advancing Cortez to third.
Tori Green pinch ran for Waugh, and both runners scored when Dalton launched a two-run double over the cneter fielder's head.
Dalton later scored on a misplay, and Gossard came home on a White infield hit to make it 8-4. Ennis looped an infield hit over the pitcher in front of second base to keep the line moving.
England laid down a perfect RBI bunt up the first base line. Cortez then ripped a two-run double to left-center field to cap the rally at 11-4.
Dalton pitched around a leadoff single in the top of the sixth by Kylie Jolliff. Madison singled up the middle in the home sixth, but was stranded.
England made a fine stop and throw from deep in the hole at shortstop to retire the leadoff hitter in the Devil seventh. Amber Durliat doubled, but Dalton got the last two outs on a grounder to England and a fly ball to left field to end it.
Dalton again went the distance, giving up just four hits and one earned run. She struck out nine and walked two.
Ada out-hit Arlington, 15-4. England, Cortez, Waugh, Dalton, Gossard, Madison and White collected two hits apiece. Ennis added a single, two stolen bases and a run.
Ada swiped nine bases, with Gossard contributing a pair of steals. The Bulldogs left seven runners on base compared to six by Arlington.
On the day, Dalton gave up just five hits and one earned run in 14 innings, with 19 strikeouts and three walks. She improved her season record to 4-3 with the personal two-game sweep.
Dalton also collected three hits, three runs and two RBI in the twinbill.
Game2 123 456 7 R H E
Arl 100 210 0 4 4 1
Ada 110 270 x 11 15 4
WP-Dalton (4-3) LP-Agapiou
2B-Durliat (Ar), Waugh (A), Dalton (A), Cortez (A)
HR-Sheets (Ar)
Ada (4-1 home, 0-1 NWC) is slated to host backyard rival Allen East (4-0, 1-0 NWC) in an NWC battle Monday, April 8.
