CIRCLEVILLE, OH - The Lady Trailblazers traveled to Kokomo, IN to take on the Eagles of Midway University in first round of the RSC Softball Championship. The Blazers qualified as the two seed in the RSC East Division, which put them up against Midway, who had locked up the three seed in the RSC West Division. Splitting the season series at one a piece, this looked to be a good match-up with both sides hungry to move on in the winner's bracket.
In a game that we knew was going to be a battle, the first four innings were just that: no runs were scored by either team during that timeframe. Going into the fifth inning, both teams were in search of some offense, and the Eagles found it first. Defensive lapses all over the field for the Blazers due to a terrible downpour of rain allowed a huge nine-run inning for Midway, and the Blazers were left needing a response.
In the bottom of that same fifth inning, Kristin Gardner was brought in by a Kylee Bako single to make the score 9-1. However, the Blazers could not find another run in that inning and the umpires were forced to call the game by the run rule. Two bright spots for OCU in this one were Gardner (2/2 [1.000], one run) and Bako (1/2 [.500], one RBI)
Pictured above is Kylee Bako
The Blazers are not out yet, as the tournament is double-elimination style. Later today, they will play again at 1PM ET with the threat of elimination. Their opponent will be the loser of the first game of the day, which is the top seeded Redstorm of Rio Grande taking on the Grenadiers of IU Southeast. The loser of that game will be sent home, while the winner will go on to another elimination game that same night at 6PM ET.
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