Lilly Walker of Jonathan Alder slides safely into third base on Tuesday. The Lady Pioneers topped River Valley, 7-0, during a Division II district semifinal game. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
A solid hitting attack and the pitching of Marlee Jacobs combined to lead Jonathan Alder’s softball squad to victory on Tuesday.
The top-seeded Lady Pioneers (22-4) ripped eight hits during a 7-0 victory over No. 8 River Valley.
The win came during a Division II district semifinal game.
Jacobs scattered five hits, struck out eight and did not walk a batter as JA advanced in the post-season.
“Marlee was battling some allergy issues today, but pitched a good game,” said Lady Pioneer coach Dave McGrew.
Jacobs stayed ahead in the count against most batters and coaxed a number of popups for outs.
She allowed two of the Vikings’ hits during the first inning, but pretty much shut River Valley down the rest of the way.
Alder set the tone by plating four runs in the bottom half of the opening inning.
Danielle Robbins led off by blasting a deep triple against Viking hurler Lanie Wooten.
She scored when Kiersten Dolby grounded out on a fielder’s choice.
Jacobs drew a walk and was replaced by courtesy runner Jaxsyn Murdock.
Catcher Kylie King legged out an infield single and was lifted for another courtesy runner, Evan Platfoot.
Jaden Phelps doubled in Murdock, with Platfoot sliding into third on the play.
A throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed Platfoot to give Alder a 3-0 lead.
JA’s final run of the inning came on an RBI single by Lizzie Lombardi.
Alder went on top 5-0 in the second.
Lilly Walker was issued a free pass and raced all the way to third on Robbins’ bunt single.
Another Viking fielding miscue resulted in Walker scoring for the five-run lead.
Wooten induced a 4-6-3 double play and then got a ground ball out to escape further damage.
The scoreboard remained quiet during the third and fourth innings.
An Alder error in the top of the fourth snapped Jacobs’ consecutive out total at eight.
That base runner proved harmless as Jacobs got River Valley’s Bentley Auld to swing at empty air on a change-up for the third out.
The Lady Pioneers added an insurance run in each of the fifth and sixth innings.
King singled with one down in the fifth and was lifted for Platfoot.
Phelps moved Platfoot to second on a fielder’s choice.
Lombardi followed with a walk.
Shanna Higgins then singled in a run to give Jonathan Alder a 6-0 advantage.
River Valley’s Shelby Westler doubled with two down in the visitors’ portion of the sixth.
Jacobs, though, notched another punchout to keep the Marion County team off the scoreboard.
Abby Harrington doubled to begin Alder’s portion of the sixth.
With one down, she raced to third on a fielder’s choice.
Harrington then pushed JA out to a 7-0 lead when she scored on an error.
Dolby, who had reached on the fielding miscue, was stranded when Wooten notched a strikeout.
A Pioneer error put River Valley’s Sophia Thompson on base to begin the top of the seventh.
Jacobs went back to work and put three consecutive strikeouts in the book to end the contest.
McGrew was pleased with how his team moved the ball and base runners.
“In the past three weeks, some of our younger players have caught on better as to why we bunt and move runners in certain situations,” he said. “Freshmen Lilly Walker and Shanna Higgins are doing nice jobs.”
The Lady Pioneers will return to their home diamond on Thursday to play No. 4 Lakewood in the district championship contest.
The Lancers defeated No. 5 London, 11-7, on Tuesday during a district semifinal game.
RV 000 000 0-0 5 4
JA 410 011 x-7 8 2
WP-Jacobs
LP-Wooten