By Bridget Bauer
Bryant exploded for five runs in the second inning on its way to an 11-0 victory Wednesday over Mount St. Mary.
The Lady Hornets (4-1, 1-0 6A/7A-Central) piled up 13 hits and were paced by freshman Regan Ryan and senior Cayla McDowell with three hits apiece. Freshman pitcher Raven Loveless helped her winning performance by smacking two hits including a two-run triple in the second frame. In five innings in the pitching circle, she gave up two hits and struck out nine batters.
After the second inning, Bryant had a commanding 7-0 lead. The Lady Hornets wasted no time on reaching base after Ryan started off the contest with a single followed by senior Abby Staton’s double. Junior Julie Ward scored Ryan after she flied out to centerfield. Senior Jordan Williams also flied out to centerfield which sent Staton home.
In addition to Loveless’ run-scoring triple in the second, Ryan added an RBI double, Staton had an RBI fielder’s choice, and McDowell contributed a run-scoring single. Freshman Daniele Singleton walked to start the inning, and freshman Sarah Evans followed with a single.
The Lady Hornets put the game out of reach with three more runs in the top of the fourth and were sparked by Mallory Theel’s RBI single and Singleton’s base hit that scored Williams, who also singled in the stanza. Staton started the scoring after she went home when Loveless reached on an error.
In the top of the fifth, Ryan singled and eventually scored when McDowell reached first base on an error.
Loveless gave up the two hits in the first and third innings and retired the side in the second and fourth frames.
