By Nicholas Huenefeld

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

NORTHWOOD — A balanced attack and a big third inning surged the Otsego softball team past Northwood, 10-0, over five innings Saturday in a non-league road matchup.

“I thought we did a very nice job,” Otsego coach Jason Colyer said. “One through nine, I thought everybody contributed.”

After a scoreless first two innings for both teams, a one-out walk from Otsego’s Riley Rowe in the top half of the third helped spark a six-run rally. The next two batters reached on errors, allowing the game’s first run to cross.

A two-out single up the middle from Cailyn Rider served as the key hit it scored a pair to push the margin to three for the Knights, who later added another on a wild pitch before Mackenzie Shirkey delivered the team’s second two-run single of the frame to left.

“We just kind of figured (their pitcher) out,” Colyer said. “We didn’t really know a whole lot about her. It was kind of that first time through the order is always kind of how much information can we communicate to our batters throughout the lineup. They took that information and applied it that next at bat.”

Rowe, who started and went the first three innings for the Knights in the circle, finished off a dominant performance in the bottom half. She allowed just one hit while striking out seven over her outing.

Otsego added a pair in each of the fourth and fifth innings.

Aubrey Hartman’s RBI single in the fourth highlighted that rally, which also included Evelyn Rider scoring on a wild pitch.

Then, with two outs and nobody on in the fifth, Ryleigh O’Brien walked and Cailyn Lorenz singled to center, which set up an RBI single from Janelle Brooks with Lorenz also scoring on the throw for the 10th run.

In all, Otsego had a balanced seven-hit attack with nobody getting more than one. O’Brien and Evelyn Rider led the Knights with two runs apiece while Brooks and Cailyn Rider each knocked in a pair.

“It was good to see everybody contribute to our success,” Colyer said.

The combination of Rowe and Brooks, who struck out five while allowing just one hit and one walk over the final two innings, combined to shut Northwood’s offense down, including the big bat of Lea Wauford, who had produced three home runs over the past two days for the Rangers.

“Both of our pitchers did a good job controlling Northwood’s offense,” Colyer said. “I’m just really proud of everybody.”

The Knights (11-6) will be back in action Monday against Lake before battling Elmwood and Rossford over the following two days.

Northwood fell to 8-5 with the loss.