By Cort Reynolds

FINDLAY – The visiting Ada High School softball team lost 7-3 to Liberty-Benton in their inaugural Blanchard Valley Conference opener on a wet Wednesday, April 2.

The scheduled home game was moved from Ada to L-B since the Eagles have a synthetic turf surface.

“We need to get back to doing the small things,” said fourth-year Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. “We made good contact but couldn’t get anything in the gaps.

“You can’t make seven errors and beat a good team,” he noted.

The Bulldogs were out-hit 10-5 and committed seven costly errors.

Ada dropped to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the BVC after the defeat in their first game in the new league. All four Bulldog games have been on the road.

Liberty-Benton ran its record to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the BVC with the victory.

Eagle Megan Gerken pitched the first three innings, allowing one hit and no runs with one whiff and one walk. Ada senior Jenna Bassitt led off the game with a long drive that was caught at the top of the fence in center field.

L-B broke open a scoreless battle with four runs in the top of the third inning. Eagle Lauren Erdeljac slugged a solo home run over the fence in left-center field in the fifth frame to extend the lead to 5-0. 

Ada responded with two scores in the bottom of the fifth.

“It is a game of momentum, and they got the momentum early,” said Bassitt.

The Eagles scored two more runs in the seventh to stretch the lead to 7-2. Ada plated one run in their final at bat. 

L-B hurler Reagan Knapke came in to earn the save with four innings of three-hit relief. Knapke gave up one earned run and struck out five while walking two.  

Bulldog hurler Bassitt struck out seven and walked three over seven innings. She allowed 10 hits and three earned runs to suffer her first defeat of the campaign. 

Freshman Emily Shanks led the Ada offense with two singles. Senior first baseman Aidra Preston and sophomore outfielder Dailah Preston each hit a single. Senior center fielder Tess Griffith contributed a single.

Erdeljac added a single to her solo homer. Keira Steinman batted 4-4 with a double, three singles and two RBI, plus two runs scored.

Izzy Jolliff contributed two singles and one RBI.

“If we make plays defensively, it is a different ball game,” said Bassitt.

Weather permitting Ada will entertain non-league foe Cory-Rawson (0-0) on Thursday. The Bulldogs visit arch-rival USV (0-1) for a doubleheader Saturday. 

WP-Gerken LP-Bassitt (3-1)

Save-Knapke

2B-Steinman (LB)

HR-Erdeljac (LB)