The Rock Bridge Bruins took advantage of a lot of little things.
The Helias Lady Crusaders didn’t get many little things to take advantage of from the Bruins.
“We just didn’t do what we needed to do today,” Helias coach Kelly Fick said after Monday’s 8-1 loss to Rock Bridge in Central Missouri Activities Conference action at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. “We weren’t good enough in all facets of the game today to come out with a win against a quality opponent.”
The Bruins scored in five of the seven innings. Rock Bridge finished with just five hits, but it was the recipient of 11 walks as well as a pair of Helias errors.
“When you give up five hits, you shouldn’t allow eight runs,” Fick said.
After a scoreless first inning, Rock Bridge scored two times in the second. The Bruins opened the inning by sandwiching an infield single around a pair of walks. After a popout, the Bruins scored on a grounder to short on which the Lady Crusaders got the force at second and just missed turning a double play at first.
The Bruins made it 2-0 on a throwing error on a stolen base attempt at second.
Alex Wilde of the Lady Crusaders led off the bottom of the second with a double. But two strikeouts and foul out ended the inning.
“If we get some better team at-bats, maybe we cut that in half and it’s a different ballgame,” Fick said.
Rock Bridge then added single runs in each of the next three innings.
In the third, Cydney Fullerton led off with a bloop double to short right-center, She stoke third before scoring two outs later on a wild pitch.
In the fourth, Bella Stephens was hit by a pitch to start the inning. After a strikeout, Stephens stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a sacrifice bunt by Sophie Schupp.
In the fifth, Anna Christ hit a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left-center to make it 5-0.
“We’re a pitch or a play of getting out some of those innings,” Fick said.
Helias got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Cambri Van Loo hit a double to left center. One out later, Jayli Howell doubled to center to score Van Loo to make it 5-1.
Rock Bridge scored three runs in the top of the seventh on two hits and five walks.
Christ was the winning pitcher for Rock Bridge. She pitched the final six innings, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out nine.
“We have got to cut down on our strikeouts,” Fick said.
Molly Berkey took the loss for the Helias. In seven innings, she allowed five hits and 11 walks while striking out 11.
“She obviously didn’t have her best stuff, but she’s been so good for us this season, I expect her to bounce back the next time she’s out there,” Fick said.
Rock Bridge (26-1 overall, 5-0 CMAC), ranked No. 2 in Class 5, has now won 22 straight games.
“They did a good job,” Fick said.
Helias (20-5, 3-1), ranked No. 1 in Class 4, is back in action Wednesday in a conference contest against Hickman.
“I don’t think the girls know how close we are to being really, really good,” Fick said. “We’ve had an awesome season, but to get where we want to go, we’re going to play teams like Rock Bridge.”
In Monday’s JV game, Rock Bridge defeated Helias 9-5.