West scored its first run in the fourth inning without benefit of a hit. McKee hit Lamara Parker to lead off the frame, and then Courtney Schott’s sacrifice bunt attempt was misplayed into an error that put runners on the corners with no outs.

Katie Kirk followed with a walk to load the bases, and then Hamilton caught a break when Pam Marcott hit a routine grounder right at one of the drawn-in infielders. But the throw to the plate for the force out was wild, enabling Parker to score the game’s first run.

After the error, the Firebirds still had the bases loaded with no outs, but McKee retired the next three hitters to get out of the inning without any further damage.

Hamilton’s best chance to score also came in the fourth inning when Traci Ryder led off with a single and Mimi Mahon followed with a double to give Big Blue runners on second and third with no outs.

But McKee bunted through the ball on a suicide squeeze attempt, leaving pinch-runner Jessie Weislogel hung out to dry for the first out of the inning. And then Bodeker fanned McKee and Tara Bastin to end the threat.

In the third inning, Hamilton’s Rachel Cox was on third base with one out when Rachel LeMaster lofted a fly ball to center. Cox bluffed tagging up, prompting West center fielder Lead Ledford to let loose with a throw to the plate that sailed way high and into the backstop.

Seeing that, Cox broke for home, but Bodeker was behind the plate backing up, and her flip to Kirk was in plenty of time to nail Cox for the final out of the inning.

The Firebirds added an insurance run in the sixth when Schott drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a fly ball that would have been the third out but instead got misplayed into a three-base error.

“This was an even game,” Heckman said. “The pitchers were even, the offenses were even. But they got their runners in and made plays, and we didn’t.

Both teams will take part in the Wendy’s Spring Classic Softball Invitational this weekend in Ashland, but first Hamilton will play a home game against Sycamore today.

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