NORTH ROBINSON — Following a legend is always difficult. And it has been extremely difficult for new Colonel Crawford coach Sarah Gray.

Gray, who is following retired hall of fame coach Chuck Huggins, watched as her Eagles got off to a 2-8 start.

But the Eagles seem to have found their footing in recent days.

Colonel Crawford starter Alivia Studer tossed a complete-game three-hitter, striking out five, as the Eagles dropped Wynford, 8-1, in a Northern 10 Athletic Conference game Wednesday.

The Eagles improved to 2-5 in the N10, 3-8 overall, while Wynford fell to 4-3 in the league, 4-6 overall.

Crawford banged out 10 hits in the game and got timely hits while Studer shut down two bases-loaded situations and limited the Royals to one run in the win.

Gray said that this win was big for her young team.

“It was huge,” Gray said. “It was huge for us to come out here and win this ball game. It was huge as a team.”

Gray said that her team is different than the one that began the season three weeks ago.

“We’re improving in every aspect,” Gray said. “It has to do with our hitting, our defense has improved a ton since the beginning and our pitching especially has improved, so we’re getting there.”

Studer was at her best when the Royals were threatening. The right-hander faced a bases-loaded situation with one out in the second inning and the Eagles leading just 3-1. But she induced a ground ball back to the pitcher’s circle which turned into a 1-2-3 double play, ending the inning.

In the fifth, the Royals filled the bases with two outs and the tying run coming to the plate. But Studer got a ground ball to first base to end that inning.

Gray said that Studer was outstanding.

“(Studer) worked well,” Gray said. “We still have to limit walks but her consistency in throwing other pitches was better.”

Wynford coach Jamee Burke said that consistency is still a problem for her young squad.

“Defensively, we were just off a little bit and just kinda mentally, too,” Burke said. “We put runners on base and a couple of little mental errors, base running and things like that, kinda took us out of some innings when we had some things rolling.

“Not running a ball out and little things like that. We need to shore up,” Burke added. “You hate to say it’s early in the season but it still kinda is. We’re halfway through, which is crazy, but our season is so short and so quick. We’re only on week three right now and we’re flying through.”

The Eagles jumped on Wynford starter Hannah Messmer for three runs in the first inning on RBIs from Jocelyn Shade and Danielle Horsley.

After Wynford scored on a bases-loaded walk in the second inning, Colonel Crawford responded with two more in the second on singles from Makenna Treisch, Zandria Gallant and Studer to take a 5-1 lead.

Crawford got three more in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk and a two-run single from Samantha Bell.

Messmer worked a complete game for the Royals, but just three of the eight runs she permitted were earned. She struck out five.

“We just have to get better on the little things,” Burke said. “So, you see that, and you can’t really teach it. We see those moments and we teach it and move on.”

Gallant singled three times for the Eagles and Horsley and Treisch added two hits each.

“We are getting better,” Gray said. “Early in the season was rough. We made error after error and we got down on ourselves. We’re playing with a lot more confidence and that’s what we need to do.”

Box score

Colonel Crawford 8, Wynford 1

Wynford                   010 000 0       1     3     3

Colonel Crawford   320 030 X      8    10    2

WP: Alivia Studer (5 SO, 5 W)

LP: Hannah Messmer (5 SO, 3 W)

HR: None.

Triples: None.

Doubles: None.

Multiple hits: (CC) Zandria Gallant 3, Danielle Horsley, Makenna Treisch.

Records: Wynford 4-6 (4-3 N10); Colonel Crawford 3-8 (2-5 N10).

Next: Colonel Crawford at Wynford, Friday.