Staff Reports
In the battle of two Northern 3A teams that advance to last year's NIAA State Championships, it was a tough way to open for the Dayton High softball team.
Dayton dropped a doubleheader to Lowry as it opened Northern 3A play on Saturday. Lowry, which was the state runnerup last year, beat the Dust Devils 2-1 and 13-3.
The Dust Devils lost the opener despite outhitting Lowry 6-4. Nicole Greer was the tough luck loser after striking out 11. Amanda Sbragia had a hit and scored Dayton's only run on Meloney Cox's RBI hit. Kaitlen McKinnon, Greer, Michelle Bowman and Bailey Garcia all added a hit for Dayton.
Dayton was hurt by six errors in the nightcap. Greer pitched five strong innings, striking out six. Cox had two hits and two runs, Bowman went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Keeli Garcia and Sbragia each had two hits and Jessie Ayres had a hit and a run.