Douglas softball beats Manogue

MINDEN - The Manogue softball team got to see all it could handle of the Douglas Lady Tiger pitching staff.

Instead of having to face just one of the Tigers' starting pitchers, the Miners had to face all three Thursday afternoon as Douglas picked up a 6-3 victory in the non-conference game.

Brittany Puzey, Kellei Kizer and Kayla Dunn combined to throw a three-hitter against the Miners, striking out 14 in the process.

"We wanted to get them all a couple of innings and they all threw well," Douglas head coach Todd Wilcks said. "It's a little tough to get into any type of rhythm when you are only throwing a couple innings at a time."

While that might be true, not one of the trio seemed to show any problem adjusting to it.

Puzey pitched the first two innings, striking out four, walking one and allowing just one hit to pick up the win.

Kizer struck out six in three perfect innings through the middle of the ball game and Dunn gave up two hits and three runs, striking out four to pick up the long save over the final two innings.

"We need to start getting them all tuned up," Wilcks said. "We're trying to get them all to where they are hitting their spots and able to throw the pitches that they want to throw."

While each pitcher put on a show from the circle, the Douglas offense got the job done, putting up three runs in the first and three more in the fifth for the win.

Dunn hit a monster two-run home run over the left field fence in the first inning after Puzey scored Kristy Olsen with a single.

Kellei Kizer singled in the fifth and Kaycee Wilcks ran out an infield single before Puzey doubled to score Kizer. Kayla Dunn then sacrificed Wilcks home and Stevie Smith brought Puzey home with a single to complete the scoring on the day.

Dunn, Puzey and Kizer each went 2-for-2 at the plate for Douglas.

Douglas (21-7, 6-0) next takes on St. Francis, Calif., in a doubleheader today at 10 a.m. at Lady Tiger Field.