RACINE, Ohio — Keeping the other team in the field is a key to winning games. The Southern softball team saw it’s defense step up Friday night forcing Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division foe Waterford into three one-two-three innings en route to a 9-5 SHS victory at Star Mill Park.

The Lady Tornadoes (3-1, 2-1 TVC Hocking) struck first with a pair of run in the first inning of play. SHS added two more runs in the second inning and two more in the third to push its lead to 6-0.

Waterford (1-2, 1-2) finally broke through in the top of the fourth with a four run effort. Southern scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead back to four.

Both teams pushed a run across in the fifth inning but failed to score in the final two, giving Southern the 9-5 victory.

Earning the win for the Lady Tornadoes was Jordan Huddleston after pitching seven innings and giving up five runs on seven hits and one walk, while striking out eight.

Heiss was the losing pitcher for the Lady Cats.

Leading the Lady Tornadoes bats were Celestia Hendrix and Baylee Hupp with three hits apiece. All of Hendrix’s hits were doubles. Katelyn Hill had a pair of doubles, while Maggie Cummins and Jordan Huddleston also had two hits. Kyrie Swann and Sarah Lawrence each had a base hit in the contest. Hill scored three times for SHS while Cummins and Hupp scored twice and Morgan McMillan and Hendrix scored once.

Six Lady Cats had hits in the contest.

The Lady Tornadoes travel to face arch-rival Eastern Monday in Tuppers Plains at 5 p.m.