ST. IGNATIUS - It took a while but the Mission softball team got

the spark they needed to overcome Plains and win their season

opener, 4-3, in extra innings last Saturday.

ST. IGNATIUS - It took a while but the Mission softball team got the spark they needed to overcome Plains and win their season opener, 4-3, in extra innings last Saturday.

"It took us a little while for us to get our bats going," Mission head coach Susan Weaselhead said.

Plains also had a hard time getting the bats going as Lady Bulldogs pitcher Kyla Olson was impressive on the mound, striking out 11 and finishing with the win and the complete game. The Trotters were scoreless for the first five innings.

Mission got on the board in the second inning and held a one-run lead until the sixth when Plains rallied for two runs to take the lead.

The Lady Bulldogs were able to tie things up in the bottom of that frame and things ended up going into extra innings.

"I don't like to have a game go that close," Weaselhead said.

The stress factor was probably ratcheted in the top of the eighth when the Trotters scored the go-ahead run, but Mission was able to answer back by tying things up and then Janeal McDonald drove in the game-winning run on a single for the walk-off win.

McDonald finished the game going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Olson allowed just one hit, but six errors by the Lady Bulldogs allowed Plains to make it dramatic.

"We have scrimmaged against each other so I think seeing somebody else made it definitely first-game jitters,"

Weaselhead said.

Weaselhead added that it's just a matter of building up some more confidence. Loren Erickson led the team by going

3-for-4 with a double. Kinley Pope also went 1-for-4.

MISSION 4, PLAINS 3

P - 000 002 01 - 3

M - 010 001 02 - 4

Plains - 1 hit, 2 errors. Mission - 7 hits, 6 errors

Lady Bulldogs batting - Sara Nerby 0-4, Loren Erickson 3-4, Kinley Pope 1-4, Janeal McDonald 2-3, Kyla Olson 0-2, Alyssa Doty 0-3, Serena Long 0-1, Sierra Scott 0-2, Jessica Foust 0-1, Emily Gillingham 1-2, Sariha Camacho 0-1, Trinda Foust 0-2

Doubles - Erickson, RBIs - Pope McDonald (2)

LB Pitching - Olson gets win (1-0), 11K, 3BB, CG