BY MICHAEL DAVID

Both the Lady Wolverines and the Minico Spartans came into Thursday’s contest at the Founders Softball Field looking for their first conference victory of the season.

Utilizing an incredible offensive outburst and a strong pitching performance, the Lady Wolverines defeated the Minico Spartans by a score of 16-1.

Starting pitcher Sydney Roberts set the tone in the first inning, sitting down the first three Spartans in order.  In the bottom of the first, Roberts helped her own cause by scoring the first run of the game. After getting hit by a pitch, she came around to score on an RBI single by junior left fielder, Morgan Benson.

The Lady Spartans touched Roberts for a single run in the second inning to tie the score at 1-1. When Wood River went down in order in their half of the second, it appeared this game might turn into a pitching duel. But the Lady Wolverines had other ideas.

Lucy Cuellar led off the third inning with a beautiful drag bunt single, using her speed to beat the pitcher’s throw to first base. Roberts sacrificed her over to second and senior Aloe Orison drove her home with the Wolverines second run of the game.

With Orison standing on second base, sophomore catcher Lauren Thomsen absolutely demolished the softball, driving it up and over the tall outfield fence in left for a two-run home run to give Wood River a three run lead, 4-1.

Then, with two outs, the next 13 Lady Wolverines reached base via hits or walks and eleven of those ladies scored to blow the game wide open, 15-1. Wood River batted around twice, as all the Wolverines got in on the action.

Cueller collected two hits, a walk and two runs and Cameron Martin picked up two hits, scored twice and knocked in three runs in the inning.  Orison had two singles, two runs and two runs batted in, while Erica Kreczkowski singled and scored twice as well. Bella Roberts singled, walked and scored twice, and Dakota Castle did the same.

Roberts was strong again in the top of the fourth inning, aided by a spectacular catch in centerfield by Cuellar. The leadoff batter for Minico hit a sinking line drive back up the middle and Cuellar charged in from center, went to her knees, slid and snagged the ball before it hit the turf. Roberts struck out two of the next three Spartans to keep them off the scoreboard again.

Wood River loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth. A wild pitch allowed Roberts to score from third, putting the Lady Wolverines up by 15 runs, evoking the mercy rule to stop the game and give Wood River the 16-1 victory.

With the win, the Wolverines improved to 4-14 on the season. These two teams will play a double-header in Minico tomorrow before the district tournament starts in May.