STORY BY ROB KISER - PIQUA DAILY CALL
COLUMBUS - The Piqua softball team completed a big week by splitting two games at Westland High School Saturday.

The Lady Indians defeated Delaware Hayes 5-4, before losing to Westerville North 6-1.

The Lady Indians finished the week 5-1, including two critical league wins and a victory over state-ranked Brookville.

"This was a big week for us," Piqua coach Rick Claprood said. "We would have liked to have won them all. Under different circumstances, we might have."

Piqua ace Tina Byrd was feeling under the weather, but still pitched both games Saturday.

Byrd pitched a nine-hitter in the first game, striking out nine and walking one.

Nikki Payne led the Lady Indians at the plate with two singles and two RBI.

In the second game, Byrd ran out of gas. Westerville North scored three runs off Byrd in the fourth and added three more off Adrienne Tisher in the sixth.

"Tina (Byrd) was drained," Claprood said. "I probably should have taken her out earlier, but she set them down in order the first three innings."

Kat Nicodemus had a double in the sixth and Betsy Stine doubled her in.

Byrd struck out five and walked two, while Tisher struck out one and walked two. They combined on a seven-hitter.

Piqua was some well-earned rest before hosting Northmont in a big GWOC North game Wednesday.

Game One
Piqua .......................221 000 0 - 5 5 2
Delaware Hayes ........000 202 x - 4 9 3
Byrd and Payne. Crinhel, Young (3) and Hyett. WP-Byrd. LP-Crinhel.

Game Two
Piqua ......................000 001 0 - 1 3 1
Westerville North .....000 303 x - 6 7 1
Byrd, Tisher (4), Byrd (6) and Payne. Jordan and Baddy. WP-Jordan. LP-Byrd. 2B-Piqua: Nicodemus, Stine. Records: Piqua 11-7.

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