Thanks to eight runs over the first four innings, the Rochester softball team outraced Centralia in the early going to steal an 11-6 win on the road over the Tigers Monday evening.
The Warriors got multiple RBIs from a trio of players, with McKenna Vassar going 3 for 5 with a run and three RBIs, Lakota Escott going 3 for 5 with a run and two RBIs, and Layna Demers going 2 for 4 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs to lead the way.
In the circle, Sadie Knutson threw a complete game with eight strikeouts and just one walk. The senior allowed six earned runs on 10 hits for the Warriors.
For the Tigers, it was a case of too little, too late. Centralia scored half of its runs in the final inning, but trailed by too much to make a serious comeback attempt. Peyton Smith got the start in the circle and allowed three earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and walks, but the Tiger infield was plagued with seven errors, contributing to eight unearned runs for the Warriors.
Payton Baumel came in relief to allow no earned runs on five hits with three walks. She had three unearned runs scored against her.
At the plate, Jimena Luis went 1 for 4 with a run scored and two RBIs, Judy Vallejo went a perfect 3 for 3 with an RBI, and Jadyn Hawley went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
The Tigers take on W.F. West on Tuesday in the second matchup of the rivalry series, while the Warriors take on Tumwater on the road.
