COVINGTON – The Piqua softball team started out fast and finished strong, but it wasn’t enough in a 10-6 loss to Covington in the season opener on Saturday.
Piqua opened the game with a 2-0 lead after Abigail Kirk drew a walk and Tarika Sutter followed with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning.
Covington responded quickly in the bottom of the first with five runs on big hits by Mara Newhouse, Nigella Reck and Karyanne Turner.
The Lady Buccs scored again in the bottom of the second to take a 6-2 lead, but Piqua followed with a run in the top of the third.
Covington scored again in the fourth and pushed its lead to 10-3 with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Piqua continued to battle by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as Covington held on for a 10-6 win.
Piqua connected on six hits as a team with Olivia Anthony leading the way with two hits. Tarika Sutter hit a home run and had two RBI, while Abigail Kirk, Audrey Bean and Julia Coppess also connected on base hits.
Coppess went the distance in the circle with 5 strikeouts, 3 walks and 10 hits allowed.
