HAMILTON — Greg Stitzel wasn’t entirely disappointed with the Badin High School softball team’s season opener Sunday afternoon.
The Rams put up a fight in the last inning of a 7-3 loss to Seton at Mueller Stadium in Joyce Park.
“The first thing I told them after the game was that they fought,” said Stitzel, who began his 20th year at the Badin helm. “They showed some life. They didn’t let that 7-1 annoy them. There was some good things by them doing that.”
After four scoreless innings in a game that was pushed from Saturday due to weather, the Rams (0-1) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when senior Rachel Nusky beat out an infield single that scored freshman Miley Zorb — who reached on a hit by pitch.
Seton put together a four-run sixth inning to go up 4-1. The Saints (1-0) collected three hits in the inning. Seton later expanded the lead with a three-run seventh to make it 7-1.
But Badin didn’t fold as the Rams rounded up two runs in the bottom half of the seventh. Nusky had an RBI single that scored Couch, who walked. Then sophomore Erica Kuhnash knocked in freshman Kira Medlock with a single to right before Seton closed it out.
“I felt like we played some fairly good defense other than a couple bad throws,” said Stitzel, noting that he expects his youthful Rams to bounce back. “All I can think about with this team is that they’re going to continue to get better.”
Nusky (3-for-4, two stolen bases, two RBI) led Badin’s offense, while Kunash (two hits, RBI), junior Halle Klaiber (hit), senior Erin Beeber (hit), senior Allison Vess (hit) and Medlock (hit, run) also contributed at the plate for the Rams.
Senior Hannah Bier went 3 for 3 for the Saints, while sophomore Grace Glaser got the win in the circle and added a hit at the plate. Klaiber, who hurled for Badin, took the loss and struck out two batters.
Badin gets back to action at home against Alter on Monday. Seton hosts Hamilton on Tuesday.
Seton 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 — 7 11 0
Badin 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 — 3 9 2
