For The Tribune

FLOYDS KNOBS

Seymour’s winless string in sectional softball tournament games came to an end Monday afternoon when the Owls defeated Jeffersonville 9-5 in the opening game of the Floyd Central Sectional.

Seymour’s last previous sectional win was by an 8-0 score against Bedford North Lawrence in 2007.

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The Owls built up a 5-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

After the Red Devils scored four times in the bottom of the third, Seymour scored pairs of runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take charge of the game and defeat Jeffersonville for the third time this season.

Owls coach Jerry Burton was pleased with the victory.

“It’s always nice to come down here and get that first win,” he said. “I knew we were going to have to score some runs. Jeff is a team that puts runs on the board. We kind of played small ball early just to get out ahead. Jeff kept coming back. It was a good ballgame.”

Seymour took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Lo Schmidt led off with a walk and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kate Snook.

The Owls sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning with McKenna Curry starting the rally by reaching base on an error and Jozie Nicholson went in to run for her.

Tori Snook singled, Haley Mobley was safe on an error that allowed a run to score, Rachel Kaufman and Katie Suits hit singles to drive in runs, and a run scored in a double play.

The Red Devils went to the long ball in the bottom of the third as Lindsey Nelson hit a two-run homer, and Faith Denig hit a two-run double to close the gap to 5-4.

Seymour regained the momentum in the fourth when Tori Snook singled and scored on a wild pitch, and Mobley singled and scored when Schmidt hit into a fielder’s choice.

Kate Snook led off the fifth with a walk and courtesy runner Marie Lenart scored on a wild pitch, and Haley Westfall singled and scored on an infield out.

“I’ve always had the theory that if you’re ahead by two, try to get one more,” Burton said. “Just keep trying to add to it because that makes it tough for them.”

Seven different Owls had hits, five girls scored runs, and four had RBIs. Tori Snook and Mobley both had two hits and scored two runs, Schmidt scored two runs, had a hit and an RBI, and Westfall had two hits.

Burton said he was pleased with the defense as the Owls only had one error.

“I thought our defense was key,” he said. “There was one inning when Mobley at second and Faith Rebber at short made great plays. Both of those are hits, normally.”

Rachel Kaufman pitched the first six innings and Mikayla Moore pitched the seventh. Kaufman allowed eight hits, to go with three strike outs and no walks, and Moore retired the side in order in her inning of work.

The Owls (17-6) will face Jennings County at 5 p.m. today.