MANSFIELD — Bucyrus pitcher Caleigh Rister pitched a no-hitter in the Lady Redmen’s 1-0 season-opening victory at Elgin on Saturday.

More than offensive struggles were identified on Monday in a 12-0 loss to Mansfield Madison — things both mental and physical that need to be addressed if the Redmen are to achieve their lofty season goals.

The Lady Rams jumped on Bucyrus starter Ashley Davis for four runs in the first inning and scored at least one in the next three frames to in the non-league game in five innings.

Bucyrus coach Jerry Hargis had a strong message of his team.

“When Caleigh’s on the mound, we’re tough because all they have to do is stand around,” Hargis said. “But today, they didn’t get to stand around. They had to play, and we didn’t play very well, and we’ve got to get better.”

The Rams were playing their first game of the year but started in mid-season form. Madison parlayed three hits, a walk, and an error into four first inning runs and never looked back.

“They play a lot of travel ball and that kept them sharp,” Madison assistant coach Willy Harper said. “It’s a good group of kids, easily coachable. Travel ball and high school ball — a little bit different attitude with the way things are taught. But they were excited.”

Madison starter Bailey Lyons had more than enough runs to take it from there. The junior went the first four innings and allowed just four Redmen baserunners — two on errors, one walk, and the lone Bucyrus hit by Jade Torres.

“We put three scrimmages up against better pitching than this and we did a pretty good job,” Hargis said. “(Caleigh) threw a no-hitter over at Elgin and then we come back and stand round and watch a game. There’s no explanation for it that I know of other than they’ve got to get busy.”

Lyons struck out seven to go with the one walk. Bre Bowles then pitched a 1-2-3 fifth with two strikeouts to close the game.

“Most of these kids are young,” Harper said. “We’ve got sophomores and freshmen all over the field. We’ve got a senior at third (Paige Eldridge) and a senior in right (Paige Mowery). The pitcher (Lyons) pitched one game as a freshman and she’s a junior now.”

The Rams banged out 10 hits. Four Bucyrus errors ultimately made five of the 12 runs unearned. Kyleigh Reiter had three hits and Reagan Hayes had two including a double. Bowles and Olivia Schultz each doubled.

Davis struck out five and walked three in her four innings of work in the circle for the Redmen.

“I’m mentally tough but I don’t know if they are,” Hargis said. “They’re kids, they’re growing. They’ve just got to learn. I don’t dislike the kids. I dislike the way they play and the effort they’re putting forth.

“One hit — you’ve got to be kidding me,” Hargis added. “ One hit, four errors. You’re going to get beat.”

“When a team makes a mistake, we’ve got to take advantage of it,” Harper said. “We had a double in the gap that scored two runs off a mistake. That’s important in this game.”

Both teams will be back in action Tuesday. Bucyrus hosts Northmor and Madison entertains rival Lexington.

Box score

Bucyrus   000 00      0     1     4

Madison   415 2X    12   10    2

WP: Bailey Lyons (7 SO, 1 W)

LP: Ashley Davis (5 SO, 3 W)

HR: None.

Triples: None.

Doubles: (M) Olivia Schultz, Bre Bowles, Reagan Hayes.

Multiple hits: (M) Kyleigh Reiter 3, Reagan Hayes.

Records: Bucyrus 1-1; Madison 1-0.

Next: Northmor at Bucyrus, Tuesday; Lexington at Madison, Tuesday.