DRYDEN — The Dryden softball team rattled off 13 runs on 12 hits and Kahlen Cornell had another standout performance in the circle and at the plate to help lead the Lions to a 13-2 win over Moravia Friday at Dryden High School.
Heading into Friday's matchup, Dryden was in the midst of a three-game losing streak and only scored two runs during the stretch. The Lions' bats have shown they can put up runs throughout the season aside from the recent cold spell and they woke up against Moravia.
Dryden's offense quickly got going after Cornell struck out the side in the top of the first inning. Chloe Russell got on base with a bunt to open up the bottom half of the first then immediately stole second base and eventually third later in the inning. Laci Prignon and Ava Henry struck out back-to-back following Russell, then Cornell hit one off the wall for an RBI double and Becca Stafford hit an RBI single to quickly make it 2-0.
Cornell kept Moravia off the board early as well, striking out seven of the first nine batters she faced and retiring all nine in order. In the bottom of the third, Dryden then gave its starting pitcher more breathing room with a four-run inning.
Prignon led off with a single, followed by Henry reaching on an error and Cornell hitting in both with another double off the wall in nearly the same spot as her first. Stafford did her job again behind the cleanup hitter and hit her in the following at bat with an RBI single. Stafford found her way to third base later in the inning after a fielder's choice and an error and later scored on a wild pitch to put Dryden up six.
The first and only hit from Moravia came in the top of the fourth on a leadoff bunt from Lily Heim. Heim then stole second base and scored after an overthrow on an attempted steal of third. Lashley Castillo reached on a dropped third strike the same at bat and later scored on an RBI groundout from Corinne Leonard.
Dryden responded with four more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Cornell and Stafford opened up the inning with singles and a bunt from Kennessy Drake to load the bases. Cornell scored on a groundout from Olivia Surine, Stafford scored on a fielder's choice from Abigail Turco and Emma Owens hit in two with a single to make it 10-2.
The final three runs from Dryden came on a Moravia mishap on a dropped third strike in the bottom of the fifth, an RBI single from Turco in the sixth and on a well-hit ball from Prignon to right field that was dropped.
Cornell went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and struck out 13 in the circle. Stafford went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, Owens went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Surine and Turco each had a hit and an RBI and Prignon had a hit. Everything was clicking for the Lions offense.
"I think as a team our mentality was better today at the plate," Cornell said. "I think nearly everybody hit the ball."
It was senior night for Dryden and it also recognized the 50-year anniversary of softball at Dryden, with members of the first team present and recognized prior to the game. The Lions used the pregame events to build up motivation and they kept their head up the entire game to cruise to the win.
"We were here to win and we did it," Owens said. "We needed to keep each other positive and don't let anybody get negative because once one person does, we all do."
"Our cheering in the dugout helped a lot because we have been slacking on that," Henry added. "Just lifting each other up after an out was also a key thing."
Three of the four Dryden seniors — Cornell, Owens, Stafford — combined for nine of the teams 12 hits and seven RBIs. Henry, who has been a key offensive player all year, put the ball in play each plate appearance, reached on an error and scored a run. Head coach Dave Allen was happy to see all four get it done on their night.
"They're all pretty special," Allen said. "Every year you get a special group of seniors but every group is a little different. It is something every day with them and they all bring something different to the table and work hard. It helps with the younger girls who will hopefully follow suit."
Dryden plays again today at 10 a.m. in the first game of doubleheader against Waverly at home. Moravia plays at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Lansing.
