RICHMOND — The Edison-Indian Creek softball team turned out to be a slugfest. In the end, Edison outslugged Indian Creek.

Bristol Leanza launched a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Wildcats’ 20th hit to bring the game to an end as the ‘Cats defeated the Redskins, 20-9, via mercy rule Thursday evening out at the Unified Sports Complex.

“It was a very offensive game,” Edison (12-9) head coach McKenzie Morrison said. “The girls have grown a lot this season. They made sure they were ready to play today.”

Edison built a 9-1 lead after two innings of play, however, Indian Creek recorded four runs in the third to make it a 9-5 ballgame. Later, the visitors pulled within 12-9 in the sixth, however, the hosts plated nine runs in the home half of the inning to end the game.

“Indian Creek definitely battled,” Morrison said. “Indian Creek is not going to give up. They didn’t give up. They played hard the whole game.”

The visitors scored at least one run in four innings, however, the Red-and-Gold was unable to keep pace with the Wildcats.

“We saw the ball better today,” Indian Creek (6-11) Angela Penner said. “We hit the ball solid. We executed some bunts. We did not quit. The score was not indicative of how we played. We fought. We played hard until the end. We just have to polish up our mistakes. If we had done that, it definitely would have been a closer game.

“I am proud of our seniors. I am proud of the team. They showed up today. They show up every day. It’s hard sometimes. We did not quit.”

The Wildcats plated at least one run in every inning except the fifth.

“We were definitely ready to play today,” Morrison said. “We had really-good aggressive approaches at the plate. Bristol Leanza had the home run to end the game. Our bats have woken up. We just want to continue to hit the ball.”

LeighAnne Anderson went the distance to pick up the win for Edison. Anderson struck out two and walked one.

Indian Creek used two pitchers in the game. McKenna Scott started the game inside the circle, and the senior standout took the loss. Scott struck out three and walked two in her two innings of work. She was replaced by Payton Rath, who pitched the rest of the game. Rath struck out two and walked two.

The Wildcats outhit the Redskins, 20-9. Edison ended the game with 13 extra-bases hits – six doubles, four triples and two home runs. Meanwhile, the girls in the red jerseys tallied four – one double, one triple and two home runs.

For the Wildcats, Ali Shrieve tallied a triple, a home run and three RBI, Anderson added three doubles and three RBI and Sophia Henderson contributed two triples and four RBI. Also, Abby Boka belted a double and a triple and finished with two RBI, Gracie Dray recorded three singles and two RBI and Leanza ended up with a home run and two RBI. Finally, Bella Cronin collected a single, two doubles and an RBI, Mady Cornell delivered three singles and Mylie Powley produced a single and an RBI.

For Indian Creek, Riley Sadler tallied a single, a home run and three RBI, Kylie Dray delivered a home run and three RBI and Scott tripled. Also, Aziah Ade added a double, Emma Vok, McKenna Puskarich, Olivia Hollenbeck and Rath all produced a single and Tori Gross contributed an RBI.

Shrieve got the Wildcats going as the senior smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the first helping Edison to jump out to a 4-0 advantage. The Redskins answered right back with a run in the second to make it a 4-1 ballgame, but Edison responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to extend its advantage out to 9-1.

Undeterred, Indian Creek battled back and scored four runs in the third as the Redskins cut their deficit to 9-5, only to see the girls in black plated a pair of runs in their half of the inning to increase their advantage to 11-5.

The victors pushed across another run in the fourth to make the score, 12-5, however, the Redskins responded with one run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to pull within three runs.

“We were patient at the plate,” Penner said. “We know we can hit the ball. We got some hits. We got some timely hits, but we made some mistakes.

“Our pitchers threw well. McKenna Scott started, and she threw well. Then, we brought in Payton Rath, and she threw well. Our pitchers did a good job.”

At that point, the game appeared as if it was going the full seven innings, however, the Wildcats erupted for eight runs to end the game.

“I think our momentum from last night carried over,” Morrison said. “We showed up ready to play today. We have to keep doing that.”

The victory enabled the Wildcats to split the season series. Indian Creek defeated Edison, 8-5, March 25 at home.

Edison is scheduled to play Meadowbrook at 5 p.m. today on the road.

Indian Creek is slated to play Bellaire in a Buckeye 8 Tournament Game at noon Saturday out at Harrison Central.

“We have to keep working,” Penner said. “We have to keep fighting. I am proud of the girls.”

Edison 20, Indian Creek 9

Indian Creek 014 013 – 9 9 3

Edison 452 108 – 20 20 2

INDIAN CREEK (6-11): Scott LP (2IP, 3K, 2BB) and Rath (2K, 2BB) and Sadler. Scott T; Gross RBI; Sadler S, HR, 3RBI; Vok S; Dray HR, 3RBI; Rath S; Ade D; Puskarich S; Hollenbeck S.

EDISON (12-9): Anderson WP (2K, 1BB) and Peckens. Cornell 3S; Boka D, T, 2RBI; Shrieve T, HR, 3RBI; Henderson 2T, 4RBI; Powley S, RBI; Anderson 3D, 3RBI; Leanza HR, 2RBI; Dray 3S, 2RBI; Cronin S, 2D, RBI.