The Jefferson City Lady Jays opened play in their home tournament Friday by splitting two games, losing 5-4 to the Parkway West Longhorns before beating the Chaffee Lady Devils 6-2 at Jefferson City High School.
In Game 1 against the Longhorns, Jefferson City fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Alexa Riddel scored on a passed ball with two outs.
The Lady Jays answered right back in the top of the second. Maleighka Luebbering led off with a single and Allison Carwile drove in two batters later with a single after Luebbering stole second base.
Jefferson City took its first lead in the top of the fourth when Carwile scored with two outs.
The Lady Jays extended their lead with two more runs in the fifth. Summer Branch led off with a solo home run, then Kashya Levi plated courtesy runner Riley Oesch four batters later on an RBI groundout to make it 4-1.
Siena Snyder hit a grand slam in the fifth for Parkway West, giving the Longhorns the lead.
The game only went six innings due to time limit.
Branch tossed a complete game in the circle, allowing five runs (three earned) on two hits, striking out seven batters compared to four walks.
Evelyn Goodman finished 2-for-2 at the plate for Jefferson City, while Branch finished 1-for-4 with the solo home run.
The Lady Jays never trailed in Game 2 and took the lead for good with a two-run third inning.
Kaylee Redcay led off the frame with a single and scored two batters later on a Jaela Nickerson groundout, then Branch hit her second home run of the day as the next batter to make it 2-0.
Chaffee was able to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth on an error, but Jefferson City responded with a four-run seventh.
Carwile walked to lead off the seventh and Redcay followed with a double to move Carwile to third. Finley Walker plated both with a single as the next batter, Nickerson added an RBI single one at-bat later and Jillian Cripe had an RBI groundout with one out to extend the lead to 6-1.
The Lady Devils were able to get a run back in the bottom of the seventh, but Branch limited the damage there to finish the win.
Branch struck out 10 batters in seven innings, allowing two unearned runs on six hits with one walk.
Redcay finished 4-for-4 out of the leadoff spot with two runs scored, Walker added two hits and two RBI and Branch went 2-for-4 with a home run.
Chaffee is ranked No. 2 in Class 2 by the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Jefferson City (7-5) will be back in action at today with two games on its home field. The Lady Jays will play Lee's Summit North at 9 a.m. and Class 2 No. 6 South Harrison at 11 a.m.