RICHMOND – The Edison baseball team has broken out the bats this week.

Edison pounded out 17 runs on 11 hits en route to defeating Jefferson County foe Buckeye Local, 17-7, via the run rule in five innings Thursday night out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.

“I thought our batters did what they needed to do,” Edison (7-2) head coach Mike Collopy said. “We just want to keep getting better every game.”

The Wildcats scored at least one run in all five innings against the Panthers, and the hosts plated three or more runs in four of the five innings.

“It was a little bit of everything,” Collopy said. “The guys hit the ball well. They threw a couple different arms at us, and we had to adjust. We want to keep getting better. That is our No. 1 goal. We want to have the right mindset every day whether it is at a game or at practice.”

After being kept off the scoreboard in the top of the first, Buckeye Local tallied three runs in the second and three more in the third to knot the score at 6, however, the Wildcats scored six runs in the home half of the sixth to take a 12-6 lead on their way to ending the game via the 10-run rule.

Both teams used multiple pitchers in the game.

Nolan Haught started on the mound for Edison, and he ended up with a no decision. Haught struck out two and walked five in his 2 1/3 innings of work. He was replaced with one out in the third by Dylan Long, who went the rest of the way. Long ended up picking up the win as he struck out five while walking three in his 2 2/3 innings of relief work.

Coop Baker started the game on the mound for the visitors. He did not record a strikeout while walking four in his one inning of work. Baker continued pitching in the second, however, he was hit by a line drive and had to leave the game.

“Ironically, that same thing happened to us,” Collopy said. “Kyle Long was hit by a ball by Coach (George) Ash, who is now our AD. That was scary. You never want to see that happen in baseball. You know it happens, but you don’t want it to ever happen.”

Blake Haught replaced Baker, and he ended up taking the loss. Haught tallied two strikeouts and five walks in his 1 1/3 innings of relief work. Also, two other relievers combined for one strikeout and one walk in the final 2 1/3 innings of the game.

The Wildcats tallied three runs in the bottom of the first and three more in the second to get things going in the right direction.

Offensively, Kyle Long collected two singles, a double and four RBI, Brady Haught delivered a single, a double and four RBI and Evan Kimmerle contributed a home run and two RBI. Also, Kayden Russell recorded a double and an RBI, Nolan Haught and Bryson Cunningham each chipped in with a single and an RBI and Chase Freeman finished with two singles. Finally, Santino Auteri added an RBI.

For Buckeye Local, Cameron Rusnack recorded a double and two RBI, Grant Dombroski delivered a single and a double and Hayden Cihon contributed a single, a double and an RBI. Baker belted a double before he had to leave the game with his injury.

The Panthers finished the game with eight hits and six errors.

The Wildcats scored three runs in the first to take an early 3-0 lead only to see Buckeye Local counter with three in the second to tie the score at 3-all. Edison answered with a three spot of its own to regain the lead before the Panthers once again plated a trio of runs in the third to even things up at 6.

Then, the victors broke the game open with six runs in the third to go up 12-6, and they tacked on another run in the fourth to make the score 13-6. The visitors responded with a run in the fifth before the home team pushed four runs across in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Edison plated 16 runs in a win against Weir Tuesday night.

“We definitely haven’t played short games,” Collopy said. “We have to stay focused regardless of whether there is a rain delay or no delay. No day is going to be perfect, but we have to stay mentally tough day in and day out.”

Edison is scheduled to play Minerva at 5 p.m. today at home.

Buckeye Local is slated to play Beaver Local at 5 p.m. today at home.