MADISON – Bedford North Lawrence hurlers Aliza Jewell and Macee Nicholson combined on a one-hit shutout as Bedford North Lawrence conquered Madison 11-0 during high school softball action on Wednesday.
Jewell and Kendall Graves blasted home runs as the Stars (14-9-1) extended their winning streak to eight straight with the mercy-rule victory.
“We want to keep the momentum going in the right direction,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “It was important that we play well. We want to continue to get better.”
After waiting out a 30-minute weather delay, BNL went to work quickly, scoring three runs in the first. Tori NIkirk walked and went to second on a wild pitch, and Ava Ratliff delivered a RBI single. Graves reached on an error as another run scored, and Danielle Stegeman cracked a run-scoring double.
The Stars added two in the third. Two walks and Stegeman’s bunt single loaded the bases, Sara Williams was hit by a pitch, and Anna Williams dropped down a bunt to score the fifth run. Anna Williams drove in a run in the fifth with a two-out double.
BNL triggered the mercy rule with a five-run sixth. Graves launched a three-run homer to center, and Jewell followed with a solo shot. The Stars added their final run on a Madison error.
“We hit the ball well,” Gilbert said. “We bunted a lot better than we have lately, moved some runners and put some pressure on them. That was nice to see.”
Stegeman had three hits, Graves drove in three runs, and BNL finished with 10 hits. The Cubs fell to 5-13.
Jewell was perfect through the first three innings before surrendering a single to Madison’s Sarah Adams in the fourth. Nicholson worked two hitless innings in relief.
“We just pounded the zone and the pitchers threw well,” Gilbert said.
BNL will host Seymour on Thursday.
