Behind a monstrous second inning and a four-RBI performance from Kaitlyn Thomas, the Lady Spartan softball team earned a 14-2 win over Richfield in the home opener on Wednesday. In what was indeed a team effort, Emery scattered 13 hits across four innings to move to 2-2 overall and 2-0 in Region 12 play.

Emery was ready to take on the Wildcats for the season opener. There is a tremendous rivalry between these two schools, and it doesn’t matter what sport; you know fireworks will be on the field.

Emery got one run on the board in the first inning when Bailey Luke would ground out to the shortstop, but it was just enough to let TaiLynn Minchey score from third. But that was just a pre-cursor for what would happen in the bottom of the second.

With the score 2-0, Thomas came up to the plate and sent a single line drive to the right field, which brought Elly Stilson and Kallee Lake home to score. With two outs on the scoreboard, the Spartans would find another gear. With two on base, Katelyn Nielson stepped up to the plate, sending a triple to deep center that allowed Minchey and Kali Jensen to score, making the score 7-0. The next at bat, Elli Stoker singled to center, as Nielson would score, next batter up was Stilson who sent a triple to left field bringing Hadley Larsen home who had entered the game as a courtesy runner for Stoker, but the Lady Spartans weren’t done. Aleeyah Cowley sent a single to second that let Stilson score.  Emery added two more runs in the inning to push the score to 12-0.

Richfield added runs in the third and the fifth innings, but Emery wasn’t finished.

Getting back to work in the bottom of the fourth, Lake sent a fly ball to short and advanced to second on an error that allowed Stilson to score. The next batter up, Thomas, grounded out to the shortstop, but Cowley would sneak home to make the score 14-2. Emery held Richfield scoreless in the top of the fifth, ending the game.

Thomas had four RBIs on two hits and scored a run for Emery. Stilson had three hits with three runs and an RBI. Lake, Stoker, Minchey each had two hits, Minchey added two runs, Nielson had one run, and Stoker had an RBI.

Lake earned the complete game, giving up two runs on five hits and striking out eight.

The Lady Spartans will spend the weekend in St. George, participating in the Snow Canyon Tournament on Friday and Saturday.