Eagles stop Calvary

Published 2:35 pm Wednesday, March 30, 2011

WINDSOR – Bethel Christian Academy scored four runs in the first frame and never looked back here Tuesday.

The Lady Eagles went on for an 11-1 victory over Calvary Baptist Church to secure their fifth win of the season and remain undefeated in 2011.

Charitee Dunlow tossed four innings to pick up her fifth win of the season. She surrendered just one hit, an infield single in the second, while striking out five.

“It feels very good to have started the season so well,” Dunlow said. “To come off a very successful basketball season and have that carry over has made it a very nice year.”

The junior hurler said she was pleased with the win Tuesday, but credited most of the work to her defense.

“I’m glad to be able to be successful, but that wouldn’t happen without the people behind me,” Dunlow stressed. “The defense was very good.”

Offensively, Elizabeth Farmer and Kelsie Conner led the Bethel attack. Both were 3-for-4 during the afternoon contest with Farmer adding an RBI. Alyssa Fairless had a perfect day at the plate, going 2-for-2, while Dunlow also added two hits with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Heather Farmer, Kristen Adams, Catarina Gibson and Amanda Outlaw also had hits for Bethel.

The scoring started for the Lady Eagles early in the first inning.

Elizabeth Farmer laid down a bunt and then moved all the way to third on a two-base error. She scored on a sacrifice by Adams, giving Bethel a 1-0 lead.

Conner then doubled to right field and went to third on a Dunlow single to right-center. Gibson then had a two-run single to center that pushed the lead to 3-0. Gibson moved to third when Outlaw reached on an error and scored on Fairless single to left, making it 4-0.

Calvary answered with its lone run in the top of the second when they used their only single combined with an error and a steal to score and close the gap to 4-1.

Bethel plated three more in the home half of the inning.

Elizabeth Farmer had another bunt single to lead off the inning and then took second on a passed ball. A groundout moved her to third before Conner laid down a bunt single.

Farmer scored on a sacrifice by Dunlow. Conner moved to second when Gibson reached on an error and then stole third. Both runners came around to score when Outlaw laced a double into left field, giving Bethel a 7-1 lead.

Neither team had any offense in the third inning, but the Lady Eagles added three more in the fourth.

Gibson and Outlaw drew back-to-back walks before Fairless doubled home Gibson and sent Outlaw to third. Outlaw scored when Heather Farmer reached on a fielder’s choice and then Fairless scored on an Elizabeth Farmer double to right making it 10-1.

Alyssa Harden came in to pitch the fifth inning for the Lady Eagles and, after a walk, struck out the side, leaving Bethel just one run away from ending the game in five innings.

It didn’t take long for the Eagles to get that run in the bottom of the fifth.

Conner doubled to center to start the inning and then scored when Dunlow singled to center providing the 10-run cushion and ending the contest.

Bethel Head Coach Lynn Conner said she was pleased to have her team playing so well early.

“I think our success has been thanks to the girls,” she said. “They practice hard and they work hard. We have a few first year players who have made a strong commitment.

“I think the girls have shown an excellent attitude and that’s the reason we’ve started so well,” Conner added.

Bethel (5-0) will travel to Northeast Academy today (Thursday) for another softball outing.