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RICHMOND -- The Edison softball team used some two-out magic to keep its winning streak alive.
Edison ended up scoring five runs with two outs, and the Wildcats scored five runs in its last two innings at the plate to rally for a 7-4 victory against Jefferson County rival Big Red on an overcast Wednesday evening out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.
The Wildcats have now won nine straight games.
"We got through it," first-year Edison (9-1) head coach McKenzie Morrison said. "The girls continue to fight. They fight until the bitter end."
The hosts overcame a pair of one-run deficits to defeat Big Red.
"You cannot give up five runs with two outs," Big Red (6-3) head coach Gus DiMarzio said. "They are a good team. They have good hitters. They have good players. They are well coached. I don't care who you are playing, you cannot give up five runs with two outs."
Big Red struck first with a run in the top of the first, however, the hosts answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. The visitors responded with a pair of runs in the third to regain the lead before Edison scored three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to build a four-run advantage.
Edison brought their big bats with them as the Wildcats collected four extra-base hits in the win, including hitting two home runs.
Pressly Meadows picked up the win inside the circle for Edison. She struck out six and walked four.
"She pitched well," Morrison said. "She battled. She didn't let anything get to her. She fought to the end."
Sena Smith was saddled with the loss for Big Red. Smith struck out eight and walked five.
It is important to get your leadoff batter on base to start an inning. Both teams scored in three innings, and their leadoff batter reached base in each inning they scored.
Smith started the game off with a double, and the speedster reached third base following an errant throw. Then, Sophia Zorne plated Smith with a sacrifice fly to center to give the Red and Black an early 1-0 lead.
Edison responded in the home half of the inning.
Becka Evans singled to start things off, and Ali Shrieve followed with a two-run home run to give the Silver and Black a 2-1 lead.
Gulianna Cramer led off the third for Big Red by drawing a walk, and Smith singled with one out. After a groundout, Sadie Edwards doubled for the first time in the game to score Cramer to knot the score at 2. Sagan Smarella was then intentionally walked to load the bases, however, Bailee Beall walked with the bases load, scoring Smith to give Big Red a 3-2 advantage.
After being held scoreless for three straight innings, the Wildcat bats came alive in the fifth and sixth innings.
Meadows singled for the second time to start the fifth. After Smith struck the next two batters, Grace Browning singled to put two runners on and to keep the inning a live. Gracie Dray followed by hitting the ball to center, Edwards attempted to make a running catch, however, the ball popped out of her glove allowing Meadows and Browning to score to give Edison a 4-3 lead. Then, Hannah Russell tripled to score Dray to make the score, 5-3. Smith struck out the next batter to get of the inning.
Shrieve walked to start the sixth, however, she was erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of Meadows. Meadows then moved up to second on a wild pitch before Abby Boka blasted a two-run home run to give Edison a 7-3 advantage.
"It's very important," Morrison said about getting the leadoff batter on base to start the inning. "It is very important for the leadoff batter to get on. We try to get on base as much as possible one through nine. We want to get good pitches to hit."
Smith led off the seventh for Big Red by homering off the foul pole in left field to pull Big Red to within 7-4. Zorne singled on a close play at first to keep the momentum on the side of the girls in the red jerseys. Meadows, however, was able to bear down and she got a pop up to short for the first out before snagging a liner and throwing over to first to complete the double play to end the game.
"We're hitting the ball, but we are just hitting it right at them," DiMarzio said. "Eventually, those balls are going to start to fall. That's just the game."
There is a lot of respect between the two teams and the two coaches.
"Gus is a very good coach," Morrison said. I coached with him last year. I know they are very tough. I know the girls well. I knew they were going to be a challenge. We battled through and got the win."
Morrison is in her first season as head coach after replacing longtime head coach Spencer Bendle, who won more than 400 varsity games as the head coach of the Wildcats.
"She played for Spencer, and her dad coached with Spencer," DiMarzio said. "Her grandfather was a great coach. Her dad is a great coach. Her sister is a good coach. She is surrounded by great coaches. She is carrying on the tradition.
"I have a great amount of respect for them. I respect what they do, and I have always respected everything they have done. She's a good coach. She's got them rolling."
Weather permitting, Edison is scheduled to play Weir at 5 p.m. today at home. The Red Riders rallied to defeat the Wildcats, 3-2, back on March 25th at the Roberta "Birdie" DeFrancis Softball Field in Edison's season opener.
"The girls are playing with a lot more confidence," Morrison said. "We have seen a lot more living pitching. We have a tough game coming it, but I think we will be ready for it. Weir is a good team, and they have a good program."
Big Red is slated to play John Marshall at 5 p.m. Friday on the road.
Edison 7, Big Red 4
Big Red 102 000 1 – 4 6 0
Edison 200 032 X – 7 9 1
BIG RED (6-3): Smith LP (8K, 5BB) and Smarella. Smith S, D, HR, RBI; Zorne S, RBI; Edwards 2D, RBI; Beall RBI
EDISON (9-1): Meadows WP (6K, 4BB) and Evans. Evans S; Shrieve HR, 2RBI; Meadows 2S; Boka HR, 2RBI; Henderson S; Browning S; Dray D, 2RBI; Russell T, RBI