RICHMOND – A big defensive play led to a big offensive inning.

A double play preserved the Edison softball team’s advantage in the top of the third inning, and the Wildcats carried that momentum over into the home half of the inning as Edison plated 11 runs to pull away from East Liverpool en route to a 14-4 victory in five innings Friday evening out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.

“We hit the ball,” Edison (4-2) head coach McKenzie Morrison said. “We put the ball in play.”

The hosts led 2-0 going into the top of the third, however, the Potters plated one run to make it a 2-1 ballgame, and the visitors from Columbiana County had runners on second and third with one out. The Blue and White seemed poised to at least tie the score, however, a ground ball to Sophia Henderson at shortstop resulted in an unassisted double play ending the threat and the inning.

The girls from Jefferson County came through at the plate in a big way in the bottom half of the inning as the girls in black came up with multiple big hits and took advantage of multiple East Liverpool errors on their way to their 11-run inning as the hosts built a 13-1 advantage.

“That hurt us big time,” East Liverpool (2-2) head coach Mary Davis said about the double play. “I feel that we had one bad inning. They scored 11 runs in the third. We made some errors, and we threw the ball around.

“They hit the ball well. They played a clean game on defense. They can field the ball. They make the routine plays. They are a good hitting team.”

The victors tacked on another run in the third to increase their advantage to 14-1.

Edison’s 13-run lead put the mercy rule into play, however, the Blue and White tallied three runs to make the score 14-4, and the Potters had runners on second and third with one out. East Liverpool was one run away from extending the game to at least the bottom of inning, however, a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat, the inning and the game.

Mylie Powley collected the win inside the circle for the Wildcats. Powley struck out four and walked two.

“Mylie pitched a great game,” Morrison said. “We can always count on Mylie to throw strikes.”

Cate Davis took the loss for the Potters. She struck out four and walked five.

The Wildcats outhit the visitors, 8-5.

Three of Edison’s eight hits went for extra bases. Six players produced at least one hit for the home team.

Individually, Abby Boka collected two doubles and three RBI, Chloe Peckens produced two singles and two RBI and Leighann Anderson and Paige Somerville each tallied a single and an RBI. Also, Bristol Leanza belted a double, and Gracie Dray delivered a single.

Trinity Pearson hit two run-scoring doubles, Cate Davis add a run-scoring single and Cheyenne Taggart contributed two base hits.

“We put the ball in play,” Coach Davis said.

The win enabled Edison to sweep the season series from East Liverpool. The Wildcats shut out the Potters, 14-0, in five innings Wednesday up at Patterson Field.

“This was a very similar game,” Morrison said.

Friday’s win against the Potters was a big one for the Wildcats as Edison suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in 10 innings to Wheeling Central Thursday on the road.

“Absolutely,” Morrison said about it being important for her team to bounce back with a win. “The girls worked really hard. They came ready to play.”

East Liverpool is scheduled to play Union Local in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. today at home.

Edison is slated to play Weir at 5 p.m. Monday at home.

Edison 14, East Liverpool 4

East Liverpool 00 1 03 – 4 5 7

Edison 20 (11) 1X – 14 8 3

EAST LIVERPOOL (2-2): Davis LP (4K, 5BB) and Pearson. Pearson 2D, 2RBI; Davis S, RBI; Taggart 2S.

EDISON (4-2): Powley WP (4K, 2BB) and Hanlin and Ault (4). Leanza D; Boka 2D, 3RBI; Peckens 2S, 2RBI; Dray S; Anderson S, RBI; Somerville S, RBI.