LAPORTE | Two big innings were all the LaPorte softball team needed Tuesday afternoon.
Times No. 6 LaPorte scored six times in the third inning and added another four runs in the sixth in a 10-3 win over No. 5 Portage in Duneland Athletic Conference play.
"We asked the girls to be enthusiastic and really come out and come after them, and we wanted to be aggressive today, and I think it really paid off," LaPorte coach Bob Severs said.
The Slicers (6-1, 2-1 DAC) sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning. The first six hitters all reached base. Samantha Becker, Hannah Fuller and Kelsee Robinson all had run-scoring singles, and Kesley Vergin delivered a two-run single to left field with two out that put LaPorte ahead 6-0.
"If you can get that big inning, string a couple of hits, a bobbled ball or two and maybe an error, all of a sudden you're doing good things," Severs said.
The Indians (6-3, 2-1 DAC) committed three errors in the third and finished with seven for the game. Only four of LaPorte's 10 runs were earned.
"That's how it goes pretty much, especially with young kids," Portage coach Lisa Hayes said. "They don't understand to calm themselves down and relax, let's get through it and leave it at one error."
LaPorte's Emma Dickson opened the sixth with a triple and came home on Becker's single. Two runs in the inning were scored via errors, and Robinson scored the final run on a wild pitch by Heather Zengler.
LaPorte pitcher Meghan Bunch allowed just four hits and struck out four in getting the win. Bunch needed just 66 pitches to get through the contest.
"They had a couple nice hits, but they didn't get a chance to string them together like we did," Severs said.
Dickson, Fuller and Alexis Botsford each had two hits for the Slicers. Becker and Robinson each drove in two runs.
Haley Hodges and Kaitlin Doud each recorded doubles for the Indians. Doud's hit scored Lauren Murray in the top of the seventh.
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