BOURBON -ÊThe Wawasee softball team finished its set of spring break games on a good note Thursday when the Warriors defeated the Triton Trojans 24-0 in five innings.

Triton's pitching staff struggled in the first inning, allowing 11 runs on just five hits. Roberta Dunn walked Dusty Krull, Andrea Gingerich, Tara Hymer and Kim Morgan before giving up a single to Kathy Likens.

Then Melissa Claxon stepped in to pitch for the Trojans. After walking Amber Ramseyer and Laura Karns, Claxon struck out Sara Weisser. Then Krull belted a double that sent two runs across the plate. Gingerich followed up with an RBI single, and Hymer and Morgan did the same.

"Our pitching was really weak tonight," said Triton coach Eileen Mariani. "We struggled with consistency."

By the end of the first half of the first inning, Wawasee held an 11-0 advantage over Triton. And then Gingerich stepped in to do her job. With one out, Gingerich struck out the next two Triton batters and the Warriors went to work again. Wawasee scored three runs in the second and six runs in the third inning to build a a 20-0 lead over Triton.

Triton's first hit of the game came in the fourth inning when Stephanie Scott hit a blooper between the second baseman and the right fielder to reach first base. However, Scott was stranded at first after the next two Triton batters got out.

Wawasee scored four runs in the last two innings to take a 24-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth when Lindsey Klinger stepped to the mound for the Warriors. Klinger gave up two hits to Katie Patrick and Tracey Bell in the bottom of the seventh, but Triton was unable to score and Wawasee went home with a 24-0 win.

Gingerich pitched four innings with no runs, one hit and six strikeouts.

"It's nice to get a victory," said Wawasee coach Bo O'Dell. "Now we are going to give all the girls a few days off to enjoy the last few days of spring break. It's good to go off on a good note."

In all, Triton walked 12 batters and had three errors, while Wawasee had no walks and no errors.

"We committed too many errors," said Mariani, "and errors can be deadly."

Krull led the Warriors going 3 for 3 at the plate with two doubles, three RBIs and four runs. Gingerich and Kim Likens were both 2 for 2, while Kathy Likens was 2 for 3.

Bell hit a double for Triton, and Stephanie Scott and Patrick added the other two Trojan hits.

Wawasee is now 2-2 onthe season, while Triton falls to 0-2 overall. Wawasee is off until Tuesday when they travel to Columbia City. Triton hosts a doubleheader with Argos Saturday.

WAWASEE 24, TRITON 0

5 innings

Wawasee (11)36 13 - 24 16 0

Triton 000 00 - 0 3 3

Wawasee ab r h rbi

Krull c 3 4 3 3

Gingerich p 2 5 2 1

Hymer 1b 2 3 1 1

Morgan 3b 1 1 1 3

Ka. Likens ss 3 3 2 1

Ramseyer 2b 1 1 0 1

Karns rf 2 2 0 2

Weybright cf 4 2 1 1

Weisser lf 5 1 1 2

Clipfell 2 0 1 1

Klinger 1 0 1 0

Beer 1 0 0 0

Sorensen 2 1 1 1

Ki. Likens 1 1 2 0

Blakeslee 0 0 0 2

Totals 30 24 16 17

Triton ab r h rbi

McClarnon 2b 2 0 0 0

Scott lf 2 0 1 0

Sechrist c 2 0 0 0

Gustafson 3b 2 0 0 0

Patrick 1b 2 0 1 0

Hooley cf 2 0 0 0

Bell rf 2 0 1 0

Dunn p 0 0 0 0

Claxon 2 0 0 0

Totals 18 0 3 0

E -ÊGustafson, Patrick, Salisbury. LOB - Wawasee 9, Triton 3. 2B - Krull (2), Gingerich, Ka. Likens, Bell. SB -ÊClipfell, Weisser. S -ÊMorgan, Ka. Likens, Blakeslee.

IP H R ER BB SO

Wawasee

Gingerich, W 2-2 4.0 1 0 0 0 6

Klinger 1.0 2 0 0 0 0

Triton

Dunn 0.0 0 5 5 3 1

Claxon L 5.0 15 19 12 9 1

HBP -ÊGingerich (by Dunn) [[In-content Ad]]