It wasn't the beginning to the game the Helias Lady Crusaders wanted.
"We just didn't have it from the start," Helias softball coach Dan Campbell said Thursday after the Lady Crusaders dropped an 8-3 decision to the Boonville Lady Pirates at Duensing Field. "That's on me, on all of us. We came out flat and they were ready to go. They took it to us."
Boonville scored a run in the first, two in the second and two more in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Walks and errors contributed to the Lady Pirate offensive attack.
"It's been the story all year, we've got to tighten that up," Campbell said.
Helias was limited to just four hits through the first five innings before the Lady Crusaders broke on the board with three runs in the sixth.
The Lady Crusaders got back-to-back walks to start the inning before Lauren Morrow singled home one run. Grace Dittmer then doubled to left-center to drive home two more runs.
"That was good to see," Campbell said. "We stuck with it and got something done offensively."
Helias had a potential rally going in the seventh. Consecutive walks with one out had runners at first and second before a pair of fly outs ended the game.
Lindsey Steinbeck took the loss for Helias. She allowed eight runs on eight hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out one. Allie Ashcraft pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing one hit.
Julie Harris and Dittmer had two hits each in a seven-hit Helias attack.
"We just need to get our confidence going and we need to get a win," Campbell said. "We haven't had one for a while."
Helias (7-12) is back in action Monday at Rock Bridge. In a game new to the schedule, Helias will play Wednesday at Cairo.
Campbell believes the Lady Crusaders can make something of the season. Helias will host the Class 3 District 10 Tournament, which starts the week of Oct. 6.
"I still think we're a threat to win the district tournament, but if we don't clean some things up, it's going to be difficult," he said.
Kiley Barnes got the win for Boonville (15-1), working the first six innings.