BUCYRUS — The stage is set in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference softball race.

Mohawk took advantage of four Bucyrus errors to score six unearned runs and beat the Lady Red, 9-7, handing Bucyrus its first N10 loss of the season.

Bucyrus falls to 9-1 in the conference, 12-2 overall, while Mohawk improved to 7-2 in the conference, 12-4 overall.

Now the Lady Red and Colonel Crawford each have one conference loss. The two teams meet tonight for the outright conference lead, something that was not lost on Bucyrus coach Jerry Hargis.

“We have a big one (today) and a big one Friday,” Hargis said. “I don’t know how they figured that schedule like that; I don’t see any other team in the N10 that has the schedule we have. Four tough league games in a week.”

Crawford is 11-1 in the conference, while Bucyrus is 9-1. Upper Sandusky (8-2) and Mohawk (7-2) are just one game back.

On Monday, Mohawk managed just four hits against Bucyrus starter Caleigh Rister and Mohawk coach Mindy Walton said her team was more focused against Bucyrus starter Ashley Davis.

“We were a lot more focused coming into today,” Walton said. “We had a big talk yesterday. We talked about how important it was to come in physically and mentally prepared for the game. Yesterday, we didn’t do that and today we did. That was basically the difference.”

Four errors cost the Lady Red dearly in the game, as the Warriors scored two in the first on a Lauren Moyer double and two more in the third on a walk to Tori Phillips and singles from Bailey Sheets, Aubrie Harper, and Paityn Clouse.

Bucyrus cut the lead to 4-3 in the third after Rister doubled to center, Addy Rister and Jade Torres singled and Davis added a two-run single.

Mohawk increased the lead to 6-3 in the top of the fourth on two singles and an error, but the Lady Red tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the frame on a Rister single and a two-run single by Addy Rister.

Caleigh Rister replaced Davis in the circle in the fifth for Bucyrus and an error gave Mohawk a 7-6 lead. The Warriors increased the lead to 9-6 in the sixth on a two-run homer to left by Clouse.

Caleigh Rister belted a towering homer to right for Bucyrus in the sixth, her sixth of the season.

Hargis said that Davis pitched well, but her defense was not as good. The Bucyrus starter worked four innings, permitting seven hits, striking out seven, and walking one.

“We didn’t field the ball very well,” Hargis said. “We didn’t hit the ball very well, either. We had a couple of good hits, other than that, but that’s the name of the game. I mean, it happens.

“You just have to get up the next day and play,” he added.

Mohawk did a lot of bunting in the game, getting three bunt hits in the game.

“When I saw them make a couple of errors on bunts, we were able to put the ball in play and get going with the short game,” Walton said. “If we’re going to get it, we’re going to take it.”

Sheets tossed a complete game for Mohawk, scattering nine hits. She fanned seven and walked none.

“I can tell that she’s a little bit tired,” Walton said of her pitcher. “She’s a competitor and she’s never going to give up so hats off to her because it’s been a long couple of days for her.”

Hargis said that his team might be a little tired.

“We’ve hit the ball better than we have today,” Hargis said. “And Caleigh has pitched better. I think we’re tired. I think this group is tired and we need to rest and pick it up and get going tomorrow.”

Box score

Mohawk   202 212 0         9     10       3

Bucyrus    003 301 0         7       9        4

WP: Bailey Sheets (7 SO, 0 W)

LP: Caleigh Rister (3 SO, 1 W)

HR: (M) Paityn Clouse (2-run, sixth inning); (B) Caleigh Rister (solo sixth inning).

Triples: None.

Doubles: (M) Lauren Moyer; (B) Caleigh Rister.

Multiple hits: (M) Bailey Sheets, Paityn Clouse, Alley Schrock; (B) Caleigh Rister, Addy Rister, Ashley Davis.

Records: Mohawk 12-4, 7-2 N10; Bucyrus 12-2, 9-1 N10.

Next: Mohawk at Wynford, Wednesday; Bucyrus at Colonel Crawford, Wednesday.