RICHMOND — The Edison softball team came out swinging against Jefferson County foe Buckeye Local.

The Wildcats tallied three runs in the bottom of the first inning and did not look back en route to defeating the Panthers, 12-2, in five innings on an overcast Saturday afternoon out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.

“We hit the ball better than we have been,” Edison (5-5) head coach McKenzie Morrison said. “I am proud of the girls’ efforts.”

The victors recorded 12 runs on 13 hits — four of which were doubles.

“The girls played really hard,” Morrison said. “I am proud of them.”

The hosts plated at least one run in four of the five innings in which they batted. Edison did not score in the second as the Wildcats stranded a runner on third base for the second straight inning.

“Edison came out swinging the bats today,” Buckeye Local (2-5) head coach Joe Soos said. “Our pitching was not very good. We made too many mental mistakes. They hit the ball, and we didn’t.

“Edison can hit the ball. They are a good team. They play good defense. I know they have played a really tough schedule up to this point. Edison is always ready to play.”

Leighann Anderson had a good day inside the circle and at the plate for the Silver and Black. Anderson recorded the win for Edison, and Anderson delivered a single, two doubles and two RBI at the plate.

Anderson struck out three without walking a batter in her four innings of work as a pitcher.

“Leighann pitched very well,” Morrison said. “She only gave up one hit. She pitched really well.”

Anderson was relieved in the fifth by Mylie Powley, who struck out one without walking a batter in her one inning of work.

Buckeye Local used two pitchers in the game.

Karli Lander started the game and was saddled with the loss. Lander struck out one and walked five in 2 1/3 innings of work. She was replaced with one out in the third by Haily Kovalski, who struck out two and walked one in her two innings of relief work.

After falling behind by three runs in the first, the Panthers scratched and clawed their way back into the game in the third as the girls in blue produced a pair of runs to pull within 3-2. Avah Williams tallied an RBI in the inning for Buckeye, while the second run scored on an error.

The Wildcats answered right back in the home half of the inning as the girls in black scored seven runs to break the game open. Edison added another run in the fourth to extend their advantage to 11-2, and the victors scored the game-ending run in the fifth on a groundout to second.

“You always have to get that first out, and I don’t think we got the first batter out in any of the innings,” Soos said. “That was key.”

Offensively for Edison, Ali Shrieve tallied two singles, a double and two RBI, Gracie Dray delivered two singles and two RBI and Chloe Peckens produced a double and an RBI. Also, Bella Cronin contributed a single and two RBI, Abby Boka collected two singles and an RBI and Sophia Henderson chipped in with a single and an RBI.

The Wildcats stole 14 bases on their way to the win.

“We were very aggressive on the bases today,” Morrison said. “Buckeye worked hard. They did not give up.”

Adison Muldrew delivered a single for Buckeye Local’s lone hit of the game.

“It is nice to get a win again,” Morrison said. “We have to keep grinding.”

Both teams are scheduled to play Monday.

Edison is slated to play Sandy Valley at 5 p.m. at home, while Buckeye Local is set to take on East Liverpool in a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. on the road up at Patterson Field.

Edison 12, Buckeye Local 2

Buckeye Local 002 00 – 2 1 1

Edison 307 11 – 12 13 2

BUCKEYE LOCAL (2-5): Lander LP (2 1/3IP, 1K, 5BB), Kovalski (2IP, 2K, 1BB) and Smith. Williams RBI; Muldrew S.

EDISON (5-5): Anderson WP (4IP, 3K, 0BB), Powley (1IP, 1K, 0BB) and Hanlin. Anderson S, 2D, 2RBI; Shrieve 2S, D, 2RBI; Henderson S, RBI; Boka 2S, RBI; Cronin S, 2RBI; Peckens, D, RBI; Dray 2S, 2RBI.