TORONTO — The Madonna and Toronto softball teams have the ability to score plenty of runs, and the Blue Dons showcased that ability against the Red Knights.

Madonna delivered seven runs in the first three innings and did not look back en route to a 9-1 victory against Toronto Thursday evening at Michael Simpson Park to spoil the Red Knights’ Senior Day.

“It is a beautiful day and Toronto has a beautiful field,” Madonna (18-5) head coach Jason Backel said. “It was a nice day. They honored their seniors.

“Their coach is doing a good job. I have to give her credit. Toronto is much improved from last season. They are getting better every day. Kudos to Toronto. They fielded the ball really well.

“Our girls took care of business. Our last regular season game is tomorrow, we play at Linsly. We played them earlier in the year, and we got a quality win against their ace pitcher. We are looking forward to competing tomorrow, and we are looking forward to competing in the playoffs come Monday.”

The visitors from Hancock County plated three runs in the top of the first inning to take the early lead before tacking on two more runs in the second and third building a seven-run advantage.

“It is tough to comeback when you fall behind like that,” first-year Toronto (11-13) head coach Shannon Bahen said. “We got off to a slow start in all three phases. Conley had a no-hitter into the third inning. I talked to my girls about having better approaches at the plate.

“Tournament time is when you want to peak instead of having these peaks and valleys we have been experience. We had won two-straight games coming into today.

“Jason does a great job with his team. Madonna is having a heck of a season. We are going to take the weekend off, and we are going to get ready to play River Monday.”

The hosts plated a run in their half of the fourth to make the score, 7-1, however, the Dons countered with a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to seal the deal.

“We have to learn to put the ball in play better when we have runners in scoring position with less than two outs,” Backel said. “We have to move runners over. We had too many pop-ups. That is going to be a major focus for us the next couple of days. We don’t want to drop our hands.

“I have been splitting our pitchers up, and they both did a good job today. I have been trying to get each of them some work before the playoffs start.

“It was nice that everybody played. Everyone contributed.”

Peyton Conley pitched the first three innings for the visitors. She struck out five without walking a batter. She was relieved at the start of the fourth by Kendal Ryan. Ryan pitched the final four innings striking out two while not walking a batter.

“We adjusted to the pitching, but we were still a little slow,” Bahen said. “We faced their No. 2 pitcher the last time. I expected us to be able to adjust quicker, but it still took time. We didn’t score enough runs.”

Madison Asafailo went the distance and took the loss for the Red-and-White. She struck out three and walked three.

The visitors outhit the hosts, 8-5, on the day. The victors collected three extra-base hits in the game while the girls in the white jersey produced one.

Madi Owens led off the game with a double, and she advanced to third on a single by Ryan. Conley hit into a fielder’s choice allowing Owens to score the first run to give the victors an early 1-0 lead. Conley promptly stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on another to increase Madonna’s advantage to 2-0. Rylee Birkhimer drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on the wild pitch Conley scored on before scoring on an error to make it a 3-0 ballgame.

The Blue Dons extended their advantage in the second. Owens was hit by a pitch with one out, she stole second and scored on a triple by Conley to make the score, 4-0. Conley scored the fifth run for Madonna on a dropped pop-up.

After Toronto was retired in order for the second-straight time, Madonna added to its lead in the third. Brea Birkhimer was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and she moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a single to center by Taylor Birkhimer making it, 6-0. Then, Tina Littleton reached on a fielder’s choice, and she scored on a double by Owens making the score, 7-0. Owens moved to third on another single by Ryan, but a pop-up ended the inning.

The Red Knights recorded a run in the fourth. Jaylee Brown singled with one out, and the shortstop advanced to second on a passed ball before scoring on a double Wright to cut Toronto’s deficit down to 7-1. Kaydence Bailey followed with a single advancing Wright to third, however, a groundout to Ryan ended the threat and the inning.

The Blue Dons answered right back with a run in the fifth. With one out, Taylor Birkhimer singled to left, and she came all the way around to score on two throwing errors following a bunt by Littleton, who stopped at second with her team out in front, 8-1. Asafailo was able to get out of the inning thanks to two pop-ups.

Madonna delivered the game’s final run in the sixth. Conley walked to lead off the inning, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Elaina Foresha’s sacrifice fly to center making it a 9-1 ballgame.

Haley Bodnar singled in the seventh for the Red Knights and the Blue Dons committed two errors in the inning, however, Ryan was able to escape the inning unscathed thanks to a double play on a lineout to Owens at shortstop and a strikeout.

Adali Mick singled with two outs in the third for Toronto’s first hit of the ballgame.

The win enabled the Blue Dons to sweep the season series from the Red Knights as Madonna defeated Toronto, 10-1, in the two team’s first meeting April 22 at home at Starvaggi Park.

“Toronto is on the way back,” Backel said.

Prior to the start of the game, Toronto honored its three seniors – Vivian Gump, JJ Rebich and Wright.

“I coached Vivian when I was out at Edison,” Bahen said. “Anna is my distant cousin. I watched her grow up and become a phenomenal person. JJ is a leader. She has been with me since my first game here. They are three integral parts of our program. We are going to keep playing for them the next couple of days. We want to keep this going.”

Madonna is scheduled to play Linsly at 5:30 p.m. today on the road.

Toronto – the No. 7 seed – is slated to play River – the No. 3 seed – in an Ohio Division VII Eastern District Quarterfinal at 5 p.m. Monday on the road. The game will be the fourth meeting between the two schools with the Pilots having won the previous three meetings.

“It is rare to play the same team four times in one season,” Bahen said. “It should be hard to beat one team four times, but we will see.”

Madonna 9, Toronto 1

Madonna 322 011 0 – 9 8 2

Toronto 000 100 0 – 1 5 5

MADONNA (18-5): Conley WP (3IP, 5K, 0BB), Ryan (4IP, 2K, 0BB) and Foresha. Owens 2D, RBI; Ryan 2S; Conley T, 2RBI; Foresha RBI; T. Birkhimer 2S, RBI; Littleton S.

TORONTO (11-13): Asafailo LP (3K, 3BB) and Highsmith. Brown S; Wright D, RBI; Bailey S; Bodnar S; Mick S.