BUCYRUS — On a day better suited for flying kites, Bucyrus and Sandusky St. Mary decided to play a softball game.

With both teams desperate for a win, it was fitting that the game was decided in the seventh inning.

Entering the seventh inning knotted at 5-5, St. Mary pushed across a run. But Bucyrus came back with two in the bottom of the frame for a walk-off 7-6 win at Jack Hewitt Field.

Things looked bleak for the Lady Red early on. The Panthers took advantage of some Bucyrus errors — both mental and physical — to score two runs in the first inning and walks and two more errors in the third helped plate three more for a 5-0 lead.

Over that time, Bucyrus (3-11) had no answer for St. Mary starting pitcher, Brittney Rhoads.

“The first three innings, we struggled,” Bucyrus coach Mike Middleton said. “Our approaches at the plate were not good at all. Our first 11 batters, (Rhoads) retired. We did get one walk (Karlee Shull leading off), but she was caught stealing.”

Rhoads struck out five of those first 11 batters. But with two outs in the fourth, a Panthers error seemingly jumpstarted the Lady Red offense.

Marissa Middleton was safe on a dropped, wind-blown fly ball. She promptly stole second and third and came home on a single by Haylee Stratton.

Bell Bruss walked before Tavia Parker singled home Stratton. Another St. Mary (0-16) error allowed Bruss to score, trimming the Panther lead to 5-3.

Bucyrus tied the game in the fifth. Danica Rowalt dropped a bunt single, and Shull did likewise, and both moved up on stolen bases. Rowalt scored on a ground out by Peyton Fackler and Shull came across on Middleton’s sacrifice bunt.

“Our defense was not like it had been. We made mistakes, mental mistakes, on defense,” Coach Middleton said. “But the last four innings, we came back, put the ball in play. We started off playing some small ball, just getting the girls some at bats putting the ball in play. It helped us out a lot.”

Both teams were scoreless in the sixth inning, setting the stage for the dramatic seventh inning.

In the top of the inning, Rachel Grimm drew a one-out walk. Laney Torres followed with a single, moving Grimm to third. Everyone was safe on a fielder’s choice, allowing Grimm to score.

The Panthers had a 6-5 lead and were three outs away from their first win of the season. The Lady Red had other ideas.

Rowalt walked to lead off and Shull moved her all the way to third with a sacrifice bunt. A Fackler ground out brought home Rowalt to tie the game.

Middleton then walked and stole second. Stratton drove a 1-1 pitch to the fence in left field for a game-winning double.

“That last inning, we got our (two-out) walk and when Marissa gets on, we’re stealing a base,” Coach Middleton said. “Haylee came up with the big, walk-off hit. I’m happy we won.”

Rhoads went the first five innings in the circle, with five Ks and five walks. Torres relieved her and took the loss, with no punch outs and three walks.

“(Rhoads) threw a lot of strikes. She dominated us (early),” Coach Middleton said. “She wasn’t the fastest pitcher, but we struggled hitting the ball. We didn’t hit with any strength at all.”

Rachel Spicer, Ella Brownell, Grimm, Torres, and Lilly Johnson all singled for the Panthers.

Savannah Clark doubled, Stratton doubled and singled, while Shull, Parker, and Rowalt singled for Bucyrus.

Bruss went the distance in the circle for the Lady Red, recording five strikeouts and walking four.

“Bell, the last four innings, pitched really well,” Middleton said. “She got in trouble that last inning — a walk and a hit. I got a little worried. But she came back, did really well on that.”

Bucyrus returns to Northern 10 Athletic Conference action Tuesday, hosting Wynford. St. Mary entertains New London on Wednesday.

Box score

Sandusky St. Mary    203 000 1      6       5       4

Bucyrus                       000 320 2      7       6       2

WP: Bell Bruss (5 SO, 5 W)

LP: Laney Torres (0 SO, 3 W)

HR: None.

Triples: None.

Doubles: (B) Haylee Stratton, Savannah Clark.

Multiple hits: (B) Haylee Stratton.

Records: Sandusky St. Mary 0-16; Bucyrus 3-11.

Next: New London at Sandusky St. Mary, Wednesday; Wynford at Bucyrus, Tuesday.