The ball was flying off the Jefferson City bats in the first inning, resulting in two runs off three hits. It wasn't the same the rest of the game.
Warrensburg's Emma Kreisel limited the Lady Jays to just two hits in the final six innings as the Lady Tigers held on for a 3-2 win Wednesday at Vogel Field.
"That first inning we came out and hit the balls on the screws a few batters in a row," Lady Jays coach Zac Miller said.
Kara Daly whizzed a ball past the glove of the center fielder for a one-out triple and scored when Avrey Reynolds lined a single to center field.
Two batters later, Lydia Hudson slapped a hard liner off the first baseman's glove for a single. The ball bounced out of play, advancing the runners to score Reynolds to give the Lady Jays a 2-1 lead.
Daly doubled to left-center field in the second and made it to third after back-to-back walks, but a groundout ended the inning.
"First two at-bats she hit the ball on both sides of the center fielder and she can't get to it because the ball is hit so hard," Miller said.
The Lady Jays stranded five runners in scoring position.
"Just kind of went dry and then we got runners on and just couldn't get that timely hit after that," Miller said.
Warrensburg tied it at 2 when Jacelynn Laws reached on an error, scoring the runner from third base.
Laws then stole second base and scored when Brookelynn Becker snuck a ground ball underneath the third baseman for an RBI single to left field.
Daly came up with with runners on the corners in the sixth. Kreisel's first two pitches caught the outside corner. After a ball made the count 1-2, Daly got a piece of an outside pitch for a slow grounder to second base to end the inning.
"She did a good job of missing her barrel in that at-bat," Miller said of Kreisel. " I don't want (Daly) to feel like it's on her. She's a great athlete, a great hitter. That's a tough spot and we should be able to back her up and be around her and not make her feel like she's got to do it all."
Warrensburg was able to turn a double play in the seventh after Reynolds led off with a walk. After a fly out to center field, the throw back to the infield ended up rolling free on the dirt. Reynolds took off for second, but was taged out. A strikeout then ended the game.
"I think she was blocked and didn't see the pitcher there," Miller said. "She saw the ball get past them and thought she was going to be clear."
Kreisel went the distance for the Lady Tigers, allowing one earned run and five hits with five strikeouts and seven walks.
Reynolds struck out six and walked one while allowing five hits and zero earned runs.
Jefferson City (2-1) is scheduled to host St. Elizabeth at 5:30 p.m. today for Senior Night.
"We're excited for them," Miller said of the five senior players. "Great group of seniors and hopefully we get a good day."