BUCYRUS — The Upper Sandusky Lady Rams’ only route to a Northern 10 Athletic Conference softball title ran through Bucyrus.

A loss would have, for all intents and purposes, eliminated the Rams from the league race.

Alivia Oney stepped into the pitchers’ circle and did not allow that to happen.

Oney struck out eight and walked just one, scattering eight hits, as Upper Sandusky defeated the Lady Redmen, 4-0, in the showdown game.

Rams’ coach Luke Swavel credited his team’s defense with backing up Oney’s pitching.

“Our defense has been carrying our butts all year,” Swavel said. “We make very few errors and I think that was the difference in the game. They had some balls get by them, where we stopped the ball.”

Upper Sandusky (16-6, 13-2 N10) manufactured two unearned runs in the second inning. Alexis Fogle led off with a single and stole second.

After a strikeout, a ground ball off the bat of Hannah McKinniss eluded Bucyrus shortstop Alexis Dye, plating Fogle and allowing McKinniss to end up at third. McKinniss came home on a ground out by Jordan Franz.

“That shortstop will make that play nine times out of 10,” Bucyrus coach Pudge Hargis said. “That ball got by her and then (later) a little pop up hits the infield and we don’t catch it.”

The Rams tacked on another run in the fourth with the help of three hits — two of which never left the infield.

Oney led off with a single. Fogle bunted with the intent of moving her to second and the ball died a few feet in from of the plate. Three players converged on it but were unable to throw out Fogle. Oney alertly advanced all the way to an uncovered third base.

“We were able to bunt the ball tonight, small ball,” Swavel said. “We did the small things that we have to do to beat really good teams.”

On the other side, the Bucyrus (16-6, 12-2) offense sputtered in clutch situations. The Redmen stranded nine base runners. They had runners on second and third in the first and fourth innings and left the bases loaded in the fifth.

“This is a game and kids cry after they strike out,” Hargis said. “That’s not right. You’ve got to learn, when something outside in the real world happens, that’s life. This is a (darn) game. Play it like a game.”

The Rams got their last run in the seventh on a lead-off double by McKinniss, a sacrifice bunt from Franz and a sacrifice fly by Jenna Kurtz.

Upper Sandusky made good use of five hits. Fogle had two hits, McKinniss doubled and scored twice, while Oney and Franz singled.

For Bucyrus, Caleigh Rister pitched well enough to win on most days. The sophomore right-hander matched Oney with eight strikeouts and one walk. Rister also led the Redmen offense with three singles and a double. Jade Torres and Ashley Davis had two singles each.

“We’re going right at tournament time. This was like a tournament atmosphere,” Swavel said. “Pudge likes it too. He likes facing good teams. He’s got to face a good Ashland Crestview team (in the sectional final).”

Both teams now control their own destinies regarding the league race. Upper Sandusky has one conference game left, with Wynford. Bucyrus has two, at Ridgedale and at Carey. If both win out, they share the N10 crown.

“A few errors here, a few errors there and that’s the difference in the ball game,” Hargis said. “We didn’t hit the ball very well today, but we’re still in first place.

“It was a great high school game,” Hargis said. “People who weren’t here missed something, so you ought to come out and see. We’re still in first place with them and we’re going to fight to stay there.”

In the meantime, both will also play for sectional titles. Bucyrus is at Ashland Crestview on Friday and Upper Sandusky hosts Vermilion on Saturday at noon.

Box score

Upper Sandusky  000 341 0     4    5    0

Bucyrus                   000 000 0    0    8    2

WP: Alivia Oney (8 SO, 1 W)

LP: Caleigh Rister (8 SO, 1 W)

HR: None.

Triples: None.

Doubles: (US) Hannah McKinniss; (B) Caleigh Rister.

Multiple hits: (US) Hannah McKinniss; (B) Caleigh Rister 4, Jade Torres, Ashley Davis.

Records: Upper Sandusky 16-6 (13-2); Bucyrus 16-6 (12-2 N10).

Next: Vermilion at Upper Sandusky, Thursday, Division III sectional final; Bucyrus at Lexington, Thursday.