By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – The bats continued to be hot for the Lady Bucks varsity softball team on Tuesday during Lakeland Conference action against Bridgman as Buchanan cranked out 21 hits and scoring 23 runs in the double header with the Bees.
"We still have some kids that need to start hitting," Buchanan coach Mike Welsh said. "At the beginning of the year we were hitting from top to bottom and pretty solid. We're getting better after that two week low and we have some kids starting to come out of it and it's the right time."
Buchanan captured a 13-1 win in five innings in the opener and came back in game two to take a 10-1 win.
Senior Emily Ross and junior Jayme O'Bryant powered the Bucks offense as Ross ripped a pair of home runs in the opener while O'Bryant was picking up the doubles smacking two in the early game. Rachel Downs also added a double to the 11 hit outing for Buchanan.
In the circle it was Alexis Lenox taking the win giving up three hits while striking out seven and gave up no walks for the win.
The win improves the sophomores record to 14-4. Sara Schmaltz picked up the loss for the Bees.
Buchanan jumped all over the Bees in the third pushing seven runs across the dish.
Lenox also picked up win number 15 in game two of the afternoon not allowing a hit in her four innings of work before handing the game over to Kayla Dale in the fifth with her team leading 7-0.
"Alexis is tough and I don't think her back bothered her at all tonight. Hopefully the warmer weather will help with that. I want to keep her fresh for the tournaments and any time I can save her innings I'm going to save her and that will make that much more extra for the tournament," Welsh said. Schmaltz picked up her second loss of the day in the circle for the Bees.
Again the offensive attack was led by O'Bryant picking up four hits in the night cap, a pair of doubles, a single and a home run. O'Bryant finished the day knocking in 10 RBI's. Holly Lucas and Devinn Adams also doubled in the game.
The sweep for the Lady Bucks improve their record to 16-7 overall and 9-3 in league play staying in the hunt for the conference title.
Buchanan will travel to South Haven today for a non-league match up with the Rams.
"Our next week and a half is some good competition and that is what we need down the stretch," Welsh added.