Clara Ziegler beats the throw to second base in BEA’s game against New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva on April 9.

Maple River used a six-run fifth inning to pull away from host Blue Earth Area on their way to a 10-0 six-inning victory on Tuesday, April 12.

The teams had been locked in a close game with the Eagles holding a 3-0 lead through the first five innings.

Neither team scored in the opening stanza but Maple River scored twice in the top of the second inning and once in the top of the third to go on top 3-0.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Eagles were able to plate six runs in the top half of the fifth before adding one more run in the sixth inning.

BEA had runners on the base paths but could not get a hit at the right time to bring them home.

The Bucs had a total of five hits during the game. Kylee Eckmann, Taylor Klabunde, Claire Sullivan, Reagan Machacek and Kylee Johnson each had one hit. Eckmann and Machacek each had doubles.

BEA batters were also walked six times, including two each by Eckmann and Lily Olson.

Eckmann pitched the first three innings for the Bucs and was charged with three runs, all earned. She struck out five Maple River batters and issued one walk.

Olivia Dutton pitched the last three innings and gave up a total of seven runs, but only three were earned. She struck out three and walked one.

With the loss the Bucs now have an overall record of 1-2.

The girls are scheduled to travel to Waseca on Tuesday, April 19 to take on the Bluejays in a Big South Conference game.

BEA 9, GHEC/ML/T 5

The Bucs broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the third inning and added four more runs in the top of the fourth inning on their way to a 9-5 victory over the host Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther/Truman Jaguars in a game played at Northrop.

Kylee Johnson led off the top of the third inning for BEA with a walk and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Johnson moved to third on Kylee Eckmann’s groundout to second and scored on another passed ball.

Another walk put Olivia Dutton on first base. She went to second on a passed ball and took third on a dropped third strike.

Claire Sullivan hit a two-out single to score Dutton with the Bucs’ second run of the inning.

Clara Ziegler hit a line drive single to left to put runners on first and second base.

Sullivan scored the third run of the inning when Reagan Machacek doubled to center field.

Ashlyn Klinkner homered to lead off the top of the fourth inning. The Bucs added three more runs to take a 7-0 lead.

The Jaguars scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut BEA’s lead to 7-2.

The Bucs added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and the Jags added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete the scoring.

BEA had a total of 11 hits during the game. Machacek had three hits, including two doubles, in four plate appearances while Johnson was 3-for-3. Sullivan also had a multiple hit game with two singles in four trips to the plate and she drove in three runs.

Eckmann started the game on the mound for the Maroon and Gold and went four innings. She gave up two runs, neither earned, and struck out four batters, walked two and allowed two hits.

Dutton pitched the final three innings and was charged with three runs, two which were earned. Dutton struck out five and walked two batters.

NRHEG 11, BEA 5

The Bucs played host to the Panthers in the first game for both teams on Saturday, April 9.

NRHEG held a 6-4 lead through five complete innings but added five more runs in the final two frames to go home with an 11-5 victory.

The Panthers had built a 6-0 lead when the Bucs came to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning.

BEA used a combination of walks, singles and errors to their advantage to push four runners across home plate and cut NRHEG’s advantage to 6-4.

However, it was as close as the home team could get and the Panthers pulled away for the 11-5 victory.

The Bucs pounded out nine hits during the game with Kylee Eckmann, Reagan Machacek and Clara Ziegler getting two each. Eckmann doubled for the only extra-base hit recorded by the Maroon and Gold.

Eckmann and Olivia Dutton shared the pitching duties for BEA and were charged with 11 runs, seven earned. They gave up 11 hits, struck out four batters and walked three.