Bulldogs jump on Panthers early

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Rain was predicted in the forecast, and the Batavia Bulldogs brought it, raining down on the scoreboard with 14 runs in two innings.

Kelsey Phalen finished off the scoring by doubling in the final two runs of a 10-run second inning with a shot to centerfield.

The Bulldogs (8-11), behind patience at the plate, solid pitching and well-timed hitting, defeated the Oswego Panthers 15-3 Saturday.

Brooke Nelson was solid on the mound for the Bulldogs, earning the victory in five innings, while allowing three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out five.

At the plate she supported her cause, reaching base four times on two walks, an error and a double that brought home two RBIs. She also stole three bases.

"I could've done better," said Nelson, fresh off the victory. "It's a cold day, my hand was kind of numb and we had long innings batting so it broke up my momentum a little bit. (The run support) felt really good. We've been struggling with our hitting. We needed that."

Control issues and a tight strike zone haunted Oswego starting pitcher Dani Blocker, as she gave up 13 runs in 1 1/3 innings, walking eight of the 17 batters faced.

Two runners were in scoring position when Kelsey Phalen stepped up to bat in the bottom of the first. Her single started the scoring, bringing across one. Brooke Jancik followed her up with an RBI single, and Katie Luetkens -- three batters later-- doubled home another run, putting the score at 4-0.

"All week long we've been working on our hitting," said Luetkens. "This game we came out, wanted to be relaxed with nothing to lose, see the ball and hit the ball. I wanted to help out my team and show them we can hit."

Oswego managed to get runners on base in the bottom of the first, but they were left stranded.

Patience at the plate was instrumental in scoring for the Bulldogs as the first four batters reached base after drawing walks to start the top of the second inning. Runs quickly piled up after that, as 10 of the 14 batters in the inning came around to score.

Nelson doubled in the inning, bringing across two, and was complimented when Jancik, Luetkens, Tara Batty, Phalen and Alexis Schofield all contributed RBIs of their own, pushing the score to 14-0 after two.

Oswego's Kupferer took over the mound midway through the second and immediately slowed Batavia's offense. Kupferer pitcher 3 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on just three hits, while striking out three batters.

"I had surgery a couple months ago, so it's pretty good for coming back," said Kupferer. "I'm proud of myself for being able to. I just wanted to keep the score where it was and not allow them anymore runs."

In the bottom of the fourth, the Panthers offense picked up as Mallory Brainerd and Morgan Sartain both singled to reach base. Kelly DeGarmo singled to bring home Brainerd and Jillian Mullen hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Sartain. The late runs were not enough.

After the loss, centerfielder Sartain, the only Panther batter perfect at the plate on the day with two singles, said "At the end we were starting to hit, and that's been one of our problems this year. But we're getting better as time goes on."

Phalen finished the game for Batavia going 2-for-2 with a double, single, two walks and three RBIs, two stolen bases, and Luetkens went 4-for-4 with three singles, a double, two RBIs and a stolen base. Oswego's DeGarmo finished 1-for-2 with a single, a walk, an RBI and two stolen bases, and designated hitter Mullen went 1-for-3 with a single and a sacrifice fly.

Softball: Batavia 15, Oswego 3