Following back-to-back losses to Fatima and Union in extra innings, John Bunch’s Owensville Dutchgirl softball team looked to close the home portion of the 2018 season on a winning note Thursday with Salem’s Lady Tigers visiting Memorial Field.

Falling behind 3-1 going into the bottom of the third inning, Owensville pushed three runs across the plate taking a 4-3 lead that they would not relinquish.

A fifth-inning insurance tally helped the Dutchgirls hold off sixth and seventh-inning Salem rallies giving them a 5-3 victory.

“I was glad we got this one and didn’t have to go into extra innings to get it,” Bunch said. “This was definitely a fun win to be a part of.”

After Dutchgirl freshman pitcher Addie Wright retired Salem in order during the top half of the first inning, Owensville wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom half of the frame.

Addie’s older sister Ella Wright tripled to lead off for the Dutchgirls.

Third baseman Anna Finley drove Ella in when she reached on an error giving OHS an early 1-0 lead.

During the top of the second inning, Salem turned two doubles and a hit batter into a pair of runs. This gave the visiting Lady Tigers a 2-1 after two innings as Owensville was retired in order.

An Alexus Woolman solo home run in the top of the third inning gave Salem a 3-1 lead moving to the bottom half of the third frame from Dutchgirl country.

Finley sparked a two-out rally and a string of four consecutive Owensville hits with a double.

Kaylee Abney traded places with her on a RBI double cutting the Lady Tiger lead to 3-2.

Addie helped her cause with another RBI double scoring Abney to knot the game at 3-3.

Julie Wright (no relation to Addison or Ella) capped the two-out rally with a RBI single helping OHS reclaim the lead at 4-3 after three innings.

Pitching around three walks that loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning, Addie struck out the side keeping Owensville’s 4-3 lead in tact.

Unable to capitalize on Caelie Horstmann and Ella Wright being hit by pitches in the bottom of the fourth, Bunch’s Dutchgirls went into inning number five still nursing a one-run lead.

Maneuvering around a hit batter, Addie kept Salem off the board in the top of the fifth inning.

Scoring three runs on two outs back in the third inning, Owensville did it again in the bottom of the fifth.

Julie Wright, Katelyn Landolt and Mackenzie Rademacher all singled to load the bases for senior third baseman Katie Smart.

On the second pitch she saw, Smart delivered a key RBI single scoring Julie Wright and giving Owensville a 5-3 lead with six outs between them and a victory on their home diamond.

Salem did not go quietly in both the top of the sixth and seventh innings.

Two Lady Tiger singles and a Dutchgirl error loaded the bases two outs before a pop fly on the infield ended that threat.

Once again in the top of the seventh inning, Salem threatened to tie or take the lead.

Two walks and a single loaded the bases again with two out before Smart caught the final out on a pop fly helping the Dutchgirls snap a two-game losing streak.

Monday night down in Cuba, Julie Wright drove in four runs batted in with three coming on one swing in the form of a 3-run home run in the top of the third inning of Owensville’s 10-7 victory over the host Lady Wildcats.

Ella Wright and Anna Finley also both drove in a pair of runs for Bunch’s Dutchgirls.

OHS will conclude the regular season this weekend in Rolla.