STORY BY ROB KISER - PIQUA DAILY CALL
SPRINGFIELD - It didn't take the Piqua softball team 15 innings Thursday.

They made up for Wednesday's long game with a short one Thursday, beating Springfield North 12-1 in five innings.

Piqua scored 11 of those runs in the third inning to break a 1-1 tie.

"The score was close the first two innings," Piqua coach Rick Claprood said. "But, we had left three runners on in the first and two in the second, while they were going down in order. Then, we had the big inning in the third. We hit the ball pretty well."

Lacey Petry had two hits, including a double and Nikki Payne doubled.

Tina Byrd, who struck out 26 Wednesday, pitched the first four innings, striking out nine. Kari Black added two strikeouts in her first inning of pitching in a regular season game. They combined on a two-hitter.

"Kari (Black) did a nice job," Claprood said. "She had two strikeouts and a fly out."

Piqua winners of four straight, will travel to Westland High School Saturday, playing Delaware Hayes at 11 a.m. and Westerville North at 3 p.m.

LINESCORE
Piqua ......01(11) 00 - 12 8 1
North .......01 0 00 - 1 2 1

Byrd, Black (5) and Payne. Schofield and Biles. WP-Byrd. LP-Schofield. 2B-Piqua; Payne, Petry. Records: Piqua 10-6.

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