SAYDEL — The Perry softball team kept plugging away, but were never quite able to take control of Thursday’s non-conference meeting at Saydel, eventually falling by a 10-5 final.
The Jayettes (0-3) were first on the board with a run in the third. The Eagles (1-3) countered with four runs in their portion of the inning, but Perry was able to tie the game at 4-all with a three-run fourth.
Unfortunately, the hosts were not done, grabbing a 6-4 lead with two fourth-inning runs. Perry was able to score once in the fifth, but a four-run sixth from Saydel sealed the victory.
Jayna Kenney had a single, a double and two RBIs, with Kennedy Tunink, Macy Killmer, Cassidy Heck, Jasmine Shriver and Taylor Atwell each adding base hits. Lydia Olejniczak reached base three times on errors and scored once, with Killmer and Atwell also scoring while Tunink and Shriver each had a run driven in.
Kenney pitched six innings for Perry, surrendering 10 runs (only four earned) on 10 hits. She walked one batter and retired one on strikes.
Mariah Cokerham went the distance for Saydel, surrendering five runs on seven hits and three walks. She hit one batter and walked three.
Rylee Carney had two doubles, a single and three runs for the hosts, with Rachel Barton hitting a home run and a double while Delaney Shinn had two singles, reached twice on errors and scored three times.
Perry is at Winterset Monday, at Carroll Wednesday and at Boone Thursday before hosting Madrid June 26.
