Lady Oracles beat Carroll to improve to 6-3
By John Dunn Contributing sportswriter

For all but two half-innings played between Delphi and Carroll Monday night in Flora on the back-half of the home-and-home series, the game seemed like most games played between the two rivals - closely played, well-pitched, a key hit here or there determining the outcome.

But for Delphi's offensive eruptions in the top-halves of both the 2nd and 7th innings, this game was much the same - except the 8-0 lop-sided outcome was a direct result of the difference in this game.

The difference was the Oracles ability to string together 10 of their season-high 13 hits during those two crucial innings to put the distance between the two teams.

Delphi also beat Pioneer for the first time in school history last Wednesday, 5-1, and swept a double-header at conference foe Rensselaer on Saturday, winning 4-1 and 11-1. In between was an extra-inning loss at then undefeated Clinton Central, 4-3.

In the Carroll game, the Oracles started its offensive barrage with five runs on six hits in the 2nd inning, and finished with another three runs on four hits in the 7th.

The Cougars were able to collect six hits off of Delphi starting pitcher Brittney Atwood, but never more than two in any one inning and only once did a Carroll baserunner advance as far as 3rd base.

Atwood improved her record to 5-1 on the season, striking out three and walking none. Cougar counterpart Leann Cossairt (2-5) was able to strike out six Oracles, but did not receive the offensive support to keep her team in the game.

Kayla Yates led Delphi offensively, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Brittany Tyner went 2-of-3 with a triple and an RBI, while both Brianne Stauffer and Emily Kayser each added two hits, including a double from Kayser.

The Oracles' Kristina Barnard and Amanda Schultz each drove in two runs apiece on singles, with Leslie Kayser adding a hit and an RBI. Atwood singled for Delphi's other hit in the contest, 11 of which were singles.

All of the Cougar hits were also singles, led by Lucia Zook, who went 2-for-2. Hannah Peden, Krystal Brazel, Cally Ayres and Cossairt each added a hit apiece.

The Oracles (6-3) played a re-scheduled game at West Lafayette Tuesday night (too late for print), then will host Frankfort on Thursday at 5 p.m., before traveling to Harrison on Friday, stating at 5:30 p.m. Delphi will then host Twin Lakes for a Saturday morning double-header at 10, then play at Rossville Monday at 4:30 and at Sheridan Tuesday at 5. Carroll (2-6) will host Central Catholic Tuesday night (too late for print) before traveling to CC on Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. The Cougars will then play at Clinton Central next Tuesday at 4:45 pm.

Against Pioneer

Last season marked the first time that a Lady Oracle team had been able to complete a 7-inning game against Pioneer, which may have laid the groundwork for this year's breakthrough. Delphi beat the Panthers for the first-time ever, 5-1.

Atwood pitched an excellent game for the Oracles, striking out 11 while allowing only two hits and walking just one. After a lead-off single in the 2nd inning, she retired the last 18 batters in-a-row to secure the victory.

Kayser led the offensive attack, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Stauffer drove in two runs with her single in the 1st inning.

Atwood added a double and Barnard a single as the Lady Oracles had six hits in the contest. Pioneer dropped to 2-2 on the season.

At Rensselaer

Delphi had an early wakeup call on Saturday, traveling to Rensselaer for a doubleheader and a 9:00 am start, but was able to get rid of the sleepy-eyes in time to defeat the Lady Bombers by scores of 4-1 and 11-1.

Atwood was again strong on the mound in the first game, striking out eight while allowing only one walk and just four hits. The lone Bomber run was unearned.

Barnard was the offensive leader in game one, going 2- for-4 with a double and 2 RBI's, while Stauffer went 1- of-2 with an RBI.

Atwood uncorked a triple over the left fielder's head, while Yates, Schultz, Tyner and both Kayser's added singles to round-out a 9-hit Oracle attack.

Delphi took care of business more efficiently in the second contest, winning by the 10-run rule in just 5 innings, led on the mound this time by Schultz, who allowed just three hits, striking out five and walking just one to earn her first victory of the season.

Barnard again led the hit parade, going 2-of-3 with a double and an RBI. Schultz also contributed with her bat, also going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Erika Hawn drove in two runs on an RBI single, while Atwood and Morgan Lavy added RBI singles. Lavy, batting for the first time in a varsity game this season, drove in the game's final run on a liner to left, scoring Yates, who had also singled, to end the game.

Tyner had the other hit for the Lady Oracles as they again collected nine hits in the contest. Rensselaer fell to 0-5 on the season.

At Clinton Central

On Thursday night, Delphi played a talented and undefeated Clinton Central team (6-0) and gave the Lady Bulldogs more than they wanted before falling 4-3 in 8 innings.

Despite only producing five hits, the Lady Oracles were in the game from the get-go, tying the score at 3 with two runs in the top of the 7th to force extra innings.

But Clinton Central was able to get consecutive twoout hits in the bottom of the eighth to take the victory.

Yates went 2-for-4, including a triple to lead Delphi, while Atwood produced the game-tying RBI single. Barnard and Kayser both added singles as Bulldog pitcher Chelsea Quick limited the Oracles' offense.

Schultz was effective on the mound with 5 strikeouts, but did allow 10 Clinton Central hits and four earned runs in to take the hard-luck loss.