RTR entered the bottom of the fifth leading by nine runs, leaving them one shy of the mercy rule. Thooft started the inning strong with a double before being replaced by a pinch runner. Jaida Fricke singled and got to second on the throw home, which resulted in the runner being tagged out, but Grace DeVries singled in the game-winning run.

“We really needed that to go on with our season, and I think today our bats really showed,” Thooft said. “Everyone was contributing to the way we played today, and I’m just so proud of my team for that.”

Thooft finished the day with a triple, two doubles and a single, scoring three runs to help set the tone in the leadoff spot for the Knights. Baartman added a homer and two singles for a game-high five RBIs, and DeVries and Fricke contributed three hits each, including a triple for DeVries and a double for Fricke.

HLOF put a runner on via a dropped third strike in the top of the first, eventually turning the error into a run on a ground out. RTR didn’t stay down for long though, responding with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.

Photo by Jake McNeill: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton shortstop Laken Baartman high-fives head coach Darren Baartman after Laken hit a two-run home run during a Red Rock Conference softball game against Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda, Thursday in Tyler.

Baartman hit the tying RBI single, driving in Thooft after she reached base on a double. A DeVries single and Taylin Thooft reaching on an error loaded the bases with two outs, and two of those runs scored on an error to give the Knights a 3-1 edge.

“It was good to see us offensively come out and string some hits together, run the bases and score some runs,” RTR head coach Darren Baartman said. “HLOF’s got some girls that can swing the bat, I remember that from last year, and I think we did an overall- it was a good win for us.”

Fricke earned the win in the circle for RTR, striking out 10 batters in a complete-game effort. She limited HLOF to four hits and a walk on an efficient 66 pitches — 51 of which were strikes — and only one of the runs she gave up was earned. Fricke retired each of the final eight batters she faced.

RTR put together a four-run rally with two outs in the bottom of the third after an error and a trio of singles gave HLOF a pair of runs in the top of the frame. Paisley Thooft tripled before scoring on a Fricke double, and Laken Baartman followed up with a two-run homer. DeVries also singled before scoring on one of Kynsi VanderPlaats’ two doubles in the game, bringing the Knights’ lead to nine runs.

The Knights first began to pull away in the bottom of the second. Jenna Lovre walked and Paisley Thooft singled to start the inning, and an RBi single from Fricke and a two-run single from Laken Baartman started to give RTR some breathing room. DeVries followed up with a triple and scored on a VanderPlaats double to bring the gap to 8-1.

Photo by Jake McNeill: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton second baseman Paisley Thooft (center) points toward her teammates after she and Fricke (right) scored during a Red Rock Conference softball game against Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda, Thursday in Tyler.

“Last game wasn’t our best game, so coming into today, I knew that I had to put my bat to the ball, and also for the rest of my team,” Paisley Thooft said. “Once you start hitting, everyone else does. It’s very contagious, so that everyone was able to get hits and I felt like that helped us come away with a win.”

Addyson Hendel took the loss for HLOF, striking out three batters while giving up 11 earned runs on 16 hits and a walk over four innings. She was also the only Coyote with an extra-base hit or to reach base multiple times, finishing with a double and a walk.

RTR improves to 1-4 on the season with the win. The Knights’ game against Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey slated for Saturday was postponed, so RTR will next return to the diamond when it hosts Murray County Central on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

“We’ve played some pretty good teams to start the season, teams that are good, solid pitching and hitting and we hung in there with all of them,” coach Baartman said. “It was good to get this win, and we’re going to go from here. Hopefully, we can carry on and do the things we did today.”

BOX SCORE

Photo by Jake McNeill: RTR outfielder Jenna Lovre rounds third base during a Red Rock Conference softball game against Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda, Thursday in Tyler.

BATTING

P. Thooft: 4-4 (3B, 2 2B), 3 R; J. Fricke: 3-4 (2B), 2 RBI, 2 R; L. Baartman: 3-4 (HR), 5 RBI, 3 R; G. DeVries: 4-4 (3B), 2 RBI, 3 R; K. VanderPlaats: 2-3 (2 2B), 2 RBI; J. Lovre: 0-1, BB, R.

PITCHING

J. Fricke: W, 5 IP, 3 R, ER, 4 H, BB, 10 SO.