“They came in from the inning after we got three outs, and I told them, ‘We haven’t even hit yet,'” the North Union head softball coach said.

Even with Forest City jumping out to a three-run lead to open Friday night’s contest in Swea City, the Warriors continued to carry themselves with confidence at the plate – a confidence that fueled what Kim Price said was one of the team’s best instances of offense this season.

Eight hits and a trip-plus through the batting order was all it took to put an early exclamation point on the game. North Union’s 10-run first frame lifted its dominant 14-3 win over the Indians and extended its winning streak to four. The Warriors (15-5) are now 10 games above .500 for the first time this season.

“When that half inning got over, we were really trying to focus on competing right now. The very next play was the most important,” Kim Price said. “That had already happened. We couldn’t do anything about the three runs. All we had to do was score our own runs, hold them, and just play our game.”

Photo by Jake Olson: North Union's Maisey Bierstedt loads up to swing during the first inning of Friday night's contest against Forest City.

The bulk of Forest City’s early scoring came from the front of its lineup, using Warrior starting pitcher Ainsley Ulrich’s power to its advantage. A walk from lead-off hitter Evonna Johnson was followed by an infield single from Hayden Brown two batters later to throw runners on first and third.

Dru Seglem delivered the big hit with a scathing double to center field that quickly cleared the bases. She scored moments later after Cambry Schott trickled her lone hit through the left side of the infield, plating the third run of the inning and capping an early statement from the Indians.

However, as Kim Price said, the Warriors haven’t even swung a bat. And their own offensive prowess would prove to be far more devastating.

Three quick singles from Ulrich, Olivia Price and Brylie Deim loaded up the bases on Forest City starting pitcher Brooklynn Gerdes, who entered the contest posting a 2.55 earned run average over 77 innings.

A swing from Maisey Bierstedt immediately cut the Indians’ lead after her first of two hits flew into the shallow outfield. Deim scampered home on a passed ball moments later before Ariana Giddings’ RBI single gave North Union the lead for good.

“We had talked about that. Being aggressive,” Kim Price said. “When we are watching strikes, we are lessening our chances of getting a hit. …It’s an active take approach. We are in there to swing, and at the last second, when it’s not a strike, then we take. We aren’t in there to maybe swing. It has to be yes, yes, yes. They did a really good job of doing that tonight.”

Ulrich’s second trip to the plate showed much more pop than her first. She screamed a line drive to center field that cleared the wall with ease, bringing in three additional runs and stamping the Warrior lead at 8-3.

Deim and Shallie Walders sent in the final two runs with an RBI double and single. 12 of the 15 batters either recorded a hit or reached base over the 10-run outburst. The depth of Kim Price’s lineup showed emphatically.

“Right now we have seven girls who have an over .400 on-base percentage. That’s unheard of,” Kim Price said. “The girls know that any night might not be their night, but I have a teammate who’s going to pick me up. We’re going to pick each other up, and all contribute in different ways.”

Ulrich’s performance in the circle was much smoother the rest of the way. The junior would allow just one more hit over her final three frames of scoreless softball, fanning a total of five batters to halt any thought of offense for the Forest City batting order.

Two RBI doubles from Ulrich and Bierstedt in the second and fourth innings put the mercy rule into effect for a North Union victory. The Warriors finished the contest with 12 hits and four walks while striking out just once.

North Union travels to Mason City on Saturday to take on Osage and Newman Catholic in a pair of weekend games. The start times are slated for 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Newman Catholic High School. The Warriors will return to Swea City next Tuesday for a contest against Garner-Hayfield Ventura beginning at 6:00 p.m.