Sometimes one inning can change the direction a team is heading. That could be the case for the Jefferson City softball team, which lost its season opener 9-5 to Lebanon and was down 2-0 heading into the seventh inning at Rock Bridge on Wednesday.
A six-run barrage in the seventh earned the Lady Jays the win, avoiding an 0-2 start to the season.
Jefferson City returned to 63 Diamonds on Thursday night against St. Elizabeth, plating six runs right off the bat in a 12-2 win in five innings.
"Part of it is just first-game jitters and not playing so well that first night and being hungry for it (Wednesday)," Lady Jays coach Zac Miller said. "We had hit a lot of balls hard just right at people and then finally got our timely hitting late in the game, and I think that was it (Thursday night). I think we had a simple approach - go up there and look for a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on one."
A simple groundout to the shortstop preceded seven hits and a walk to score the six runs in the first. In all, 10 came to the plate for the Lady Jays.
Hannah Clardy drove in her first of three RBI with a liner up the middle to get Jefferson City on the board.
Following a walk, Gabi McGinty doubled to the left-field gap to make it 3-0. McGinty finished 3-for-3 with three RBI.
Mychael Jett followed that with a shallow fly ball that found a hole on the infield dirt between first and second base for and RBI double.
Olivia Wallace then drove in the two to cap off the six-run frame.
"I think we made a lot of good contact tonight," Miller said. " For the most part I was pleased."
McGinty and Clardy each singled to left field in the second inning to push across one and two runs, respectively, extending the lead to 9-0.
St. Elizabeth scored its two runs in the third. Jefferson City scored one each in the third, fourth and fifth to end the game by run-rule.
Freshman Megan Green made her first pitching start of the season, allowing two runs on four hits. She walked four and struck out two.
"Anytime we can get her extra innings in here at the varsity level, that's what we like to do," Miller said. "She does a good job for us. She's working on that command and that's probably the first thing she'd say to you too. She wants to be more consistent up there."
Green only allowed one baserunner in the first inning on an error and retired the side in order in the second. The Lady Hornets got two on base in the fourth but no damage was done. Only one batter got on in the fifth.
Green got help from the defense to stop St. Elizabeth from adding to its score in the third.
With the bases loaded and two out, shortstop Alex Gilliland made a diving stop to her right and threw to third base for the force out.
For the second out of the inning, left fielder Lauren Neubauer tracked down a deep fly ball.
"Those were two key plays," Miller said. "The balls were hit hard and they made a good play on both of them."
Amber Struemph got St. Elizabeth on the board in the third by sneaking a grounder past the third baseman's glove to score Sheldon Holtmeyer from second.
A walk loaded the bases and Kaylie Oligschlaeger scored on a passed ball to cut it to 9-2.
St. Elizabeth (0-5) is looking for its first win of the season when it hosts Calvary Lutheran at 5 p.m. today.
"It's just going to take a few players stepping up, making some plays," Lady Hornets coach Tim Oligschlaeger said. "Our pitching just has to keep working and we've just got to play as a team."
Jefferson City (2-1) will play for the fourth straight day today as it hosts Troy-Buchanan at 5:30 p.m.
The Lady Jays have split two matchups with the Trojans each of the past two seasons.
"Troy is always a tough game," Miller said. "They always come ready to play and it'll be a dog fight. I don't expect anything less."
Jefferson City won Thursday night's JV game 4-3.