NORTH ROBINSON — Bucyrus started off the game with a tenacity that matched the warm temperatures.

The Lady Red scored eight times in the first two innings and then held off Colonel Crawford 12-8 in a Northern 10 Athletic Conference softball game Tuesday at Chuck Huggins Field.

The Lady Red (2-4, 1-4 N10) picked up their first league win as it pounded out 8 hits and took advantage of five Lady Eagles errors.

“It was a solid game. There’s times when we’ve got a real good team and there’s times when we’re teenagers and we forget to do some things,” Bucyrus head coach Jerry “Pudge” Hargis said.

“Today we were more positive than negative. I’m more than happy with our game. Our number one pitcher fell apart a little bit and number two picked her up. The kids came back and scored some more runs. It’s a game for kids and they’re having fun out here,” he said.

Junior third baseman Isabella “Bell” Bruss came in to assist starter Kendra Blizzard. Blizzard got the win with three strikeouts and three walks.

She only allowed a couple of hits in the first two innings, but Colonel Crawford struck for six in the bottom of the third to make it 8-6.

But a five-run first was all Bucyrus needed.

Marissa Middleton led off the game with a double to left field. Sophomore Karlee Shull then laid down a perfect bunt in front of the plate to reach base.

A hit batter and two walks, along with Addy Ricker’s single, made it 3-0 after a Natalie Hankins base hit to right field.

Center fielder Brook Dennison also delivered a hit, one of her three singles on the night. She also made a spectacular diving catch in left center field in the seventh inning, chasing down a deep shot hit by Paige Allen.

Lady Eagles head coach Ethan Weithman lamented that mistakes again cost his team the game.

“We beat ourselves. We’ve had this talk game after game after game. We keep shooting ourself in the foot. Walks, errors … it seems like once we have one error, we have three or four,” he said.

Crawford (3-5, 2-4 N10) committed five errors, along with several wild pitches and passed balls that allowed Bucyrus base runners to advance or score.

Weithman, Rylie Hoepf, Paige Allen all had doubles. The Lady Eagles sent 11 batters to the plate in the third to score six runs.

Emma Strausbaugh and Madison Gray delivered key hits.

“Every team we’ve played this year we’ve outhit. But for some reason, defensively we can’t put it together. We keep making the same mistakes,” Weithman said.

Colonel Crawford had 10 hits to Bucyrus’ eight.

Bucyrus added a solo run in the fourth inning when sophomore Haylee Stratton hit a home run off the top of the left center field fence. The visitors added three more runs in the sixth — due largely to Colonel Crawford mistakes.

Three straight infield errors and a sacrifice fly by Stratton made it 12-6.

The Lady Eagles got two runs in the sixth as Weithman and Hoepf drove in runs.

Hargis said speed and defense made a difference.

“We ran on them. We have good team speed, and when you have good team speed the other team better be sharp or you’re going to get a lot of bases. And defense. We play pretty good defense, we run well and we’re just a little short on pitching,” he said.

“But the kids are hitting the ball a lot better. Getting out in this (nicer weather) is great. You look at the people around and the kids are in a better mood.”

Weithman said Bucyrus came prepared.

“They were ready to play, and we weren’t, bottom line. And that’s on me for not having them ready. Come tomorrow we’ll hopefully be ready,” he said.

The two teams meet at Jack Hewitt Field on Wednesday, weather permitting.

Colonel Crawford’s Payton Rowlinson had four strikeouts and pair of walks in the circle in her first start.

“She’s a freshman. She just came off a back injury and she’s on a pitch count. I’m trying to get her mound time but not get her frustrated. Then I had to go to Allison and she’s one of our best defensive players out there,” Weithman said.

“I need some of these other kids to step up and they’re just not doing it right now. Hopefully, we’ll be able to figure it out and come back stronger.”

Box score

Bucyrus                       530 103 0       12        8        1

Colonel Crawford      006 002 0         8      10        5

WP: Kendra Blizzard (3 SO, 3 W)

LP: Payton Rowlinson (4 SO, 2 W)

HR: (B) Haylee Stratton (solo, 4th inning).

Triples: None.

Doubles: (B) Marissa Middleton; (CC) Allison Weithman, Rylie Hoepf, Paige Allen.

Multiple hits: (B) Brook Dennison 3, Haylee Stratton; (CC) Emma Strausbaugh, Allison Weithman.

Records: Bucyrus 2-4, 1-4 N10; Colonel Crawford 3-5, 2-4 N10.

Next: Colonel Crawford at Bucyrus, Wednesday.