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Dodgeville's softball team took a 4-3 lead after three innings and never looked back in an 11-5 win over Barneveld Thursday.
The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the first as Taylor Owens and Jessica Walker both scored on a single by Natalie Elfering.
The Dodgers tied it in the second as Courtney Miess and Marci Swiggum came around on Jordyn Alfred's double.
Owens doubled leading off the third and scored on a Teegan Pikarts grounder.
Dodgers took the lead for good on a Swiggum two bagger.
They scored twice more in the fifth with Swiggum having an rbi single and plated five more in the sixth with Alicia Benson driving in one and Ellie Argall two.
Barneveld scored twice in the sixth with the help of two errors.
Dodgeville - 11R; 14H; 3E
Barneveld - 5R; 4H; 3E
"It was a long time getting our first game in but we had put the time to good use and I felt that we were about as prepared for a first game as we could be and the team didn't disappoint," said Dodgeville coach Gene Van Dyck. "We haven't had a team play a first game like that in quite a few years. In spite of the 3 errors our field looked sharp and scoring 11 runs on 14 hits in 6 innings speaks for itself."
"Barneveld's pitcher Mattie Schave also threw well but seemed to tire in the 5th and 6th innings and we made her pay. She struck out four without a walk and gave up 11 runs (8 earned) on 14 hits. It was about as good a hitting display as you would want to see early or late in the year. We had 9 different hitters collect hits with 4 hitters having multiple hit games in only 6 innings. Our top hitter was Maci Swiggum going 3x3 with a double. Probably our best hitter was Courtney Miess going 2x4 but hit the ball really hard all 4 of her at bats. Barneveld's defense helped us a little early in the game but in the 6th we scored 5 runs on 5 hits including 2 doubles.
"Our senior pitcher Nicole Jones threw the ball well for this early in the year and as cold as it was. She only gave up 4 hits, 2 BB and 2 earned runs. She threw strikes and generally kept them off of the bases. Barneveld's leadoff hitter Taylor Owens had a good day at the plate going 2x4 with a double and scoring 2 runs but other than that Nicole pretty well controlled their hitters. While Nicole had control she really didn't have command but it was the first game of the year and pitching conditions were tough.
"Hopefully we'll get our next 4 non-conference game in before we start conference play. We really need to be involved in live action. But with the weather being the way it has been, who knows."