By Cort Reynolds

ADA - The host Ada softball team rallied late but came up just short in an 8-5 loss to league leader Spencerville in a key  Northwest Conference battle Thursday evening.

 

The Lady Bulldogs dropped to 10- 6 overall and 3-3 in the NWC with the loss, which unofficially eliminated them from league title contention. The first-place Bearcats improved to 5-0 in NWC play and 8-6 overall after the big win.

 

Ada fell behind 6-0 but rallied for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a contest. However, Spencerville tacked on two big insurance runs late to hold on for the victory.

 

"We dug too big of a hole but made a nice comeback," said Ada head coach Troy Erickson. "We battled back, which is something to build off of. I like the feeling we walked away with, despite the loss."

 

The Lady Bearcats jumped out in front immediately and never trailed. A walk and a single started off the top of the first, and then shortstop Kara May launched a long three-run homer to left field for a 3-0 lead before an out was recorded.

 

An error helped the visitors tack on another run before Ada ever came to bat, down 4-0.

 

Hard-throwing Julie Mulholland struck out the Bulldog side in the home first, sandwiched around a Sydney Newland single.

 

In the Bearcat second, Ada hurler Leona Dalton gave up a two-out single but then struck out Jenna Henline looking. Raina England beat out a bunt single in the home second, but Mulholland whiffed two more Bulldogs to keep it 4-0.

 

May walked to lead off the top of the third. England made a nice play on a hard grounder to second base for out number two. But a long fly to center field by Gracie Butorac was dropped, allowing May to scamper home with the fifth run.

 

Catcher Syd Newland made a fine hustling grab of a foul pop-up behind home plate to end the frame.

 

Ada threatened in the bottom of the third. With one out, Olivia Alexander poked a well-placed infield single past the drawn-in third sacker to the hole at shortstop.

 

Teara Coulson then did the same thing, slapping an infield hit past third into the hole at shortstop. Syd Newland grounded out to second base, which advanced both runners into scoring position.

 

Maddie Gossard was walked intentionally to load the bases. But then on a check swing strike, Alexander was caught in a rundown between third and home and was tagged out to end the threat.

 

Dalton retired the Bearcats in order in the fourth. Ada also went down one, two, three in the home fourth.

 

In the Bearcat fifth, May was again walked intentionally. She later scored on an RBI single to right field off the bat of Kendra Johnston to extend the lead to 6-0.

 

Ada finally got to Mulholland in the bottom of the fifth. Sidney Gossard led off with a solid single to right-center field. With one out, Alexander punched a single into left-center, sending pinch runner Aubrey Madison to third.

 

Coulson bunted up the first base line, but Madison was thrown out at home.

 

Syd Newland then ripped a two-run double to right-center field to make it 6-2. Maddie Gossard was walked intentionally again. Kaiti Newland then lifted a long fly ball over the left fielder's head which she legged into a two-run triple.

 

England then laid down a fine bunt up the first base line and beat it out to plate Newland and cut the lead to 6-5 as the home crowd howled in delight.

 

"That was a great bunt by Raina," said Erickson.

 

But the inning ended on a strikeout as Ada batted around and scored five times.

 

In the top of the sixth, the Bearcats struck back as Market roped a double to left field leading off. Two outs later, Bailey Swartz looped a high fly into shallow center field.

 

England did well to get to the ball but couldn't keep it in her glove, allowing Market to sprint home with a big insurance run and a 7-5 lead.

 

Dalton then whiffed Henline to end the frame. Ada was retired in order in the sixth on two grounders and a foul-out as Mulholland settled back down.

 

"Mulholland is a great pitcher," said Erickson. "And she fields her position very well."

 

In the visiting seventh, the Bearcats gave themselves a little more breathing room. The speedy May sliced a lead-off triple down the right field line, just out of the reach of a lunging Alexis Ennis.

 

One out later, Johnston lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score May and make it 8-5. Butorac whiffed to end the frame.

 

Coulson led off the Bulldog seventh by stroking a line-drive single to center field that gave Ada life. However, Syd Newland's sharp grounder to second base was turned into a backbreaking double play.

 

The second baseman tagged Coulson out as she ran by and threw on to first base for a key twin killing. Maddie Gossard then smacked a double on a 3-2 pitch over the right fielder's head to keep the Bulldogs alive.

 

Kaiti Newland then hit a high fly to center field for the final out.

 

"I am happy with how we finished the game," Erickson offered. "We got some big hits to get back in the game in the fifth. But the four fielding errors and two baserunning mistakes hurt us."

 

Ada actually out-hit the Bearcats, 10-7. Freshman Dalton pitched a complete game in defeat and struck out four.

 

Alexander collected two singles for Ada. Maddie Gossard doubled and walked twice. Sydney Newland smoked a two-run double and singled, while Kaiti Newland stroked a two-run triple.

 

England beat out an infield hit and Coulson slapped two singles. Sid Gossard also smacked a solid single.

 

Following their third straight league loss, the Bulldogs dropped to fifth in the NWC standings, and 2-2 at home this season.

 

123 456 7 R H E

Svl 401 011 1 8 7 2

Ada 000 050 0 5 10 4

WP-Mulholland LP-Dalton (8-6)

2B-M. Gossard (A), S. Newland (A), Market (S)

3B-K. Newland (A), May (S)

HR-May (S)

 

Ada (2-2 home) hosts non-league Vanlue Friday. "With the league title out of reach, we need to focus on peaking at the right time for tournament," said Erickson.