Lady Oracles win three conference games
By John Dunn Contributing Sportswriter

The Delphi Lady Oracles won three of four Hoosier Conference match-ups last week, sweeping Sheridan 3-1 and 2- 0, and then splitting a doubleheader with Tipton with finals of 10-0 and 11-1. Delphi then let one get away in the late stages at Frontier on Monday night, 7-3.

Coming off of a 12-hit performance, the Lady Oracles entered the front-half of the home-and-home series at and the pieces were in place for 3-1 road victory.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the top-of-the-sixth inning, Delphi strung together three consecutive two-out base hits as Brittany Tyner's single to center scored both Atwood and Erika Hawn with the game-deciding runs.

Tyner was the lone Lady Oracle with multiple hits during the game, finishing 2-of-3 with a triple and two RBIs. Leslie Kayser added a double, and Kayla Yates, Kristina Barnard and Emily Kayser each had singles.

In Thursday night's rematch at Delphi, the Oracles again came away winners of a close 2-0 decision, jumping in front in the 1st inning on Amanda Schultz's RBI single to leftcenter scoring Yates, who had led-off with a single and took second-base on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Barnard.

Delphi added an insurance run in the 3rd inning when Barnard blasted a triple to the fence in left-center and scored on an errant throw into the infield.

Schultz took the victory on the mound with a shutout, striking out seven. Emily Kayser went 2-of-3 in the contest, while Hawn added a late double for the only six Oracle hits needed.

Against Tipton

Playing with an altered lineup absent three of its regulars due to SAT exams, the Lady Oracles came out flat in the first game of the twin-bill Saturday afternoon, playing host to Tipton.

Despite being held to just four hits in the contest, Delphi still only trailed 3-0 heading into the top-of-the 6th inning, when the wheels came off in a big way.

The Blue Devils (5-7) sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring seven times on just two hits, taking advantage of three Oracle miscues, two hit-batsmen and a walk to secure the 10-0 victory in six innings.

Barnard remained hot at the plate going 2-of-3, while Atwood and Hawn each added singles. Atwood suffered the loss on the mound, despite allowing only three earned runs.

The second game was just the opposite. Delphi had a season high 15 hits, again led by Barnard, who went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs.

The Lady Oracles again jumped ahead early with 1st inning hits from Atwood, an RBI single scoring Emily Kayser, who had an RBI double that scored Barnard, who had ledoff the game with a double to left-center.

Delphi also received a spark on the mound with a dominant performance from Schultz, who improved her season record to 4-3, striking out 12 and allowing only five hits in the 11-1 payback.

Emily Kayser finished 2-of- 3, including a double and three RBIs, while Atwood and Tyner each went 2-for-3 with one run batted in.

Schultz added some offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Stauffer was the sixth Oracle to post a multiple-hit performance, also going 2-for- 3 in the contest. Hawn chipped in with a single and an RBI, with Yates adding a hit and Leslie Kayser an RBI on a sacrifice.

At Frontier

After leading from the onset into the Falcons' last at-bat, the Lady Oracles lost a tough one at Frontier, 7-3. Delphi (11-8) again jumped in front in the top-of-the 1st after Barnard led-off by smashing a double to left field and advancing to third on a passed ball given up during a walk to Schultz.

Barnard then scored on a double-steal as Frontier threw to second base trying to throw out Schultz, allowing Barnard to score on a close play at the plate. Schultz later scored on a Yates' RBI single to center.

The Lady Oracles extended their lead to 3-1 in the top-ofthe 5th inning when Hawn drew a bases-loaded, two-out walk, forcing in Schultz from 3rd base. Frontier (11-4) narrowed the margin to 3-2 with a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th, before another late-inning Oracle defensive meltdown in the bottom of the 6th. The Falcons sent nine to the plate, scoring five runs on four hits, but were again aided by three Delphi errors, a hit-batsman and a walk.

Yates was a bright spot at the plate, going 3-for-3; while Tyner added a triple, and Schultz and Emily Kayser each singled to round-out the 7-hit attack. Atwood suffered the loss on the hill, falling to 7-5 on the season.

Delphi traveled to North White on Tuesday (too late for print), then will host Rochester on Thursday at 5 p.m. before traveling to Cass on Friday for a 6 p.m. start. The Lady Oracles will then return home to face Winamac in a doubleheader on Saturday at 10 a.m., travel to Northwestern Monday night at 4:30 p.m. and then return home next Tuesday to face Clinton Prairie at 4:30 p.m and South Newton at 6 p.m. in a rare two-game home set.