MCDONALD SETS A TONE IN THE SERIES OPENER

McDONALD OH— Sophia Pecchia came through in the clutch Monday, driving in four runs on a pair of base knocks to help McDonald cruise past Jackson-Milton 13-2 in five innings.

Jackson-Milton grabbed a quick lead after a first-inning error, but McDonald wasn’t rattled. The Blue Devils answered with five runs in the bottom half, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Marissa Colarich that flipped the game on its head.

McDonald kept the pressure on in the third, hanging another crooked number—this time six runs. Pecchia delivered again with a two-RBI single, while Aubrey Evans helped her own cause with a run-scoring knock. Walks drawn by Miley Titus and Gianna Mancini also pushed runs across, and Kayla Helco chipped in with an RBI groundout.

Evans was dealing in the circle, punching out 11 and allowing just two hits and two runs in five innings of work. She walked only two and kept the Jayhawks guessing all night.

Addison Grewell led the hit parade with a 3-for-3 showing out of the eight-hole. Evans and Alexis Hvisdak both added multiple hits, and Mancini drew three of the team’s seven total walks as McDonald stayed disciplined at the plate.

Emma and Grace Johns picked up the only hits for Jackson-Milton, and Charly Estes stole two bases in a bright spot for the Jayhawks. These two square off again Tuesday, with McDonald looking for the sweep on the road.