Decatur Falls to Bennett, 12-8

BERLIN- Paybacks were in order for the Bennett girls softball team this week when the Clippers outlasted Decatur, 12-8, on Tuesday one week after falling to the Seahawks, 11-6, in extra innings.

Decatur has won and lost games in all sorts of different ways this season, including tight pitching duels and slugfests, but when it comes to its match-ups with Bennett thus far, lots of offense and the long ball have been the norm. The Seahawks beat the Clippers, 11-6, in extra innings last Tuesday and Bennett returned the favor this Tuesday, thumping Decatur 12-8.

Decatur got on the board first against Bennett this Tuesday on a home run by Kylie Nottingham for a quick 1-0 lead, but the Clippers answered with three runs of their own in the top of the second highlighted by a two-run homer for a 3-1 lead. The Seahawks answered with three more runs in their half of the second and added two more in the third to take a 6-3 lead, but the Clippers were not finished denting the scoreboard.

Bennett scored four times in the top of the fifth inning including another home run to take the lead back at 7-6. Decatur had something going in the bottom of the fifth inning with two on and one out, but Bennett wiggled out of the jam and held the 7-6 lead going into the final two innings.

Bennett broke open the close game once and for all with five runs in the top of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 12-6, which was all the Clippers would need to get out with the win and revenge the extra inning loss to the Seahawks last week. Decatur mounted one last threat in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs to cut the lead to 12-8, but the rally died right there and the Seahawks went quietly in the seventh.

By virtue of the Seahawks' loss on Tuesday, Decatur and Bennett split their season series with each team winning on the other's home field and now share the top spot in the Bayside Conference south division with Parkside in the mix. Decatur is now 6-2 overall with a 5-1 record in the division, while Bennett is 6-1 overall with a 5-1 mark in the Bayside south. Parkside is lurking close behind with a 4-1 record overall and in the division.