Twin Rivers' Bethany Kiersey slides safely into second before Doniphan's Kailee Ware can turn to make the tag Tuesday in Broseley. (Brad Hurt/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By BRAD HURT ~ DAR Sports Writer

BROSELEY -- An offensive outburst by the Twin Rivers Lady Royals in the sixth inning brought an early end Tuesday to their game against Doniphan as their five runs in that frame gave them a 10-0 win.

The Lady Royals pounded out 14 hits.

"That's what we've been needing," Twin Rivers coach Barb Cunningham said. "We just need to get our bats working."

Briana Johnson led off the sixth inning with an infield single and after a bunt single by Kelci Scott, Chelsea Crain loaded the bases with a one-out walk. Kayla Cunningham made it 6-0 with another infield single and after run-scoring singles by Carlee Vancil and Bethany Kiersey pinch-hitter Julia Labine drew a game-ending bases-loaded walk.

The Lady Royals (2-0) held a modest 3-0 lead until the fifth, when the first four hitters reached base to bring in another pair of runs.

Crain led off with a single and was later thrown out at third. Cunningham doubled to left and a single by Vancil drove her in before Kiersey plated Vancil with a single to push the lead to 5-0.

Doniphan coach Jimbo Blackwell said he liked what he ay from pitcher Marybeth Cosgrove before he removed her for Katelynn Murray in order to prepare for the busy week ahead.

Cosgrove handled the Lady Royal lineup in the middle two innings, allowing only one baserunner over that time, but had to work from behind beginning in the second inning.

"Marybeth has pitched absolutely fantastic all year Blackwell said. "We got her out of there in the fifth just because she threw yesterday, and we have makeup games (Wednesday) and Thursday and then we have a game Friday."

Cosgrove allowed five runs, three of them earned, on nine hits and struck out two in her five innings.

Vancil limited the Donettes to two hits -- a second-inning single by Jessica Hassig and a sixth-inning infield single by Jan Smith.

Vancil struck out 13 and walked three.

The Donettes' best chance to score came in the fifth after Hassig and Murray reached on consecutive walks to start the inning. Vancil recovered to strike out the next three hitters in order.

"Carlee is a great pitcher," Blackwell said. "If you give her two or three runs, it's real tough. They got a few runs early and we knew it was going to be tough from that point on."

Blackwell said his team fared better against Vancil than the last time they faced her, especially as the game went along.

"After the first couple of innings, I thought we did a better job," he said. "She's just one of those special pitchers that you can't get behind."

The Twin Rivers lineup posed a challenge, particularly due to its balance. Seven different Lady Royals collected hits Tuesday and five had at least two hits.

Vancil and Kiersey each went 3-for-4 to lead the team. Vancil led the team with three RBIs while Cunningham scored three times.

"We have a real strong order," coach Cunningham said. "There's not anybody in the batting order that is of concern."