Delta rides five-run fifth to 10-2 win vs. Chaffee

~ The Red Devils fell after taking an early lead.

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- One big inning doomed Chaffee's upset bid and helped Delta get back on track.

The Bobcats (13-5) came from behind to knock off the host Red Devils 10-2 on Tuesday night.

The Red Devils (4-16) looked poised to knock off Delta through the first four innings before things unraveled in the top of the fifth.

Delta started slow, leaving seven runners on base in the first four innings.

"Sometimes it takes them awhile to figure out what's not working," Bobcats coach Laura Brown said. "They went up there and had a lot more discipline and waited until they did get something good to where they could put something in play."

The Bobcats had runners on second and third with two outs in the first inning before Chaffee pitcher Hailey Enderle fanned Katie Brucker to end the threat.

In the second, Delta got on the board but failed to pad the lead.

Taylor Keys hit an RBI single to drive in Macey Parks for a 1-0 lead, but Keys was gunned out at second base trying to stretch the hit into a double to end the threat.

Chaffee struck back in the bottom of the third inning.

Erica Welter roped a single to center to get things started and Taylor Kirchdoerfer followed with a bunt single. A double steal advanced both runners before Stevie Schrum lined an RBI single to right field tying the game at 1-1.

Kirchdoerfer scored on a passed ball to give the Red Devils the lead.

"We came out and played good ball for four innings," Chaffee coach Shawn Powderly said. "When we get our head straight and do things we need to, we can hang with just about any team we've played so far this year."

After a scoreless fourth inning, Delta pounced in the top of the fifth.

Courtney Burton blooped a single to start things and two consecutive walks loaded the bases for the Bobcats.

Ashley Glaus then hit a grounder to third baseman Adrienne Eichhorn, who threw home to get the force out. But the ball hit the top of catcher Hannah Bedwell's glove and went to the backstop to score a run. Bedwell and Eichhorn forced runner Kendra Burnett into a pickle between third base and home plate before Bedwell's throw to third sailed wide, allowing Burnett to score and giving Delta a 3-2 lead.

"We've had a lot of these games so far this year," Powderly said. "The biggest thing we keep preaching is getting rid of the one big inning. We have two weeks to get rid of the one big inning before districts get here. For the most part, it's our kids staying focused in pressure situations."

Delta wasn't finished.

Back-to-back infield singles by Rachel Bartels and Parks made it first and second again with one out. After a popup, Keys walked to load the bases for senior Taylor Smith.

Smith hit a shallow fly ball to left-center to drive in two more runs for a 6-2 advantage.

"We were dragging in the beginning of the game," Smith said. "We just knew we had to step it up and get pumped up. Once one person started something, we just kept going, and then it all just worked out and went together."

Delta added another run in the sixth and three more in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Delta 010 051 3 -- 10 14 1

Chaffee 002 000 0 -- 2 4 4

WP -- Kendra Burnett. LP -- Hailey Enderle. 3B -- Katie Brucker (D). 2B -- Taylor Smith (D). Multiple hits -- Delta: Taylor Keys 3-4, Smith 2-5, Burton 2-4, Burnett 2-3, Macey Parks 2-4. Records -- Delta 13-5, Chaffee 4-16.