Softball: Perry Hall thumps Loch Raven

It's easy to overlook a struggling team. That appears to be what Perry Hall did against visiting Loch Raven Friday.

Perry Hall fell behind the Raiders (2-9) early before picking up its play in the middle innings en route to a 13-5 victory.

"Sometimes you look at the other team's record and you just expect to win," said Perry Hall coach Brian Radcliffe, whose team improved to 8-4. "We played well in the first inning and then sort of took a siesta. Loch Raven came to play and we needed to match their intensity."

Perry Hall freshman Miranda Lobus (5-1, 2.50 ERA) got the win, striking out 10 batters, walking two and yielding five hits.

She yielded home runs to both Kayla Brown and Macy Rhodes.

Lobus, however, helped her own cause, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Abby Hollen (1-for-3, home run, 2 RBIs) and Lauren Stumme (2-for-3, triple, 2 RBIs) also contributed to the Gators' attack.

Perry Hall went ahead 3-0 in the first as Hollen highlighted the inning with a three-run homer to the right-center field gap.

Loch Raven responded with four runs in the top of the second. Brown clubbed a three-run homer over center fielder's head.

The Gators retook the lead in the fourth with two runs, but Loch Raven tied it in the fifth.

Perry Hall went ahead for good by scoring two runs in the fifth and the Gators added six runs (four unearned on three errors) in the sixth.

"If we get a couple of more breaks or make a couple of more plays, we are right there with these guys," Loch Raven coach Anthony Menegatti said. "We are definitely a work in progress out there, but we are getting better and better."