LAND O'LAKES - The Gators' offense made sure that there would be no need for extra innings Thursday.
Land O'Lakes and Ridgewood lasted eight innings in their first matchup this season before the Gators pulled out a 4-3 victory.
This time, LOL scored four runs in the first, doubled that total in the second and ended its 11-1 victory via the mercy rule in the fifth inning.
"Sometimes, we hit early and not late, but today we hit for the entire game," LOL coach Mark Rulison said.
From the first batter, the Gators (11-3) dominated. April Slate raced out of the batter's box, turning a bloop hit into a double.
Samantha Cronk moved her along with a groundout to second, and Jessica Tejas' dropped an RBI single in over the first baseman's head.
Andy Babij singled up the middle, putting runners at first and third.
Kim Hensley ripped a single to left and the ball rolled under the outfielder's glove, sending Hensley to third and scoring both runners.
Ashley Rigau pulled a ball through the left side as the lead grew to 4-1.
The Gators made it 8-1 when Rigau froze the center fielder with a double over her head that nearly bounced to the fence. Tejas and Babij scored as LOL batted around.
An injury forced the Rams (7-10) to play most of the game without shortstop Krysti DiMartino.
The senior was hit above her left eye by a ball before taking infield and left to go to the hospital after sacrificing Liz Kirby to second in the first.
Kirby moved to third on a wild pitch and scored Ridgewood's only run on a single to center field by Jess Birchmeier.
LOL starter Rhiannon Boegart put multiple runners on in every inning but the second. However, each time she managed to wriggle out of danger.
Birchmeier got caught stealing at third in the first and grounded into a double play in the third. Boegart induced a soft liner to third in the fourth, escaping a bases loaded situation in the fourth.
Cronk moved to her left to spear the third out in the fifth with the bases jammed.
