Before their game Friday, Collinsville softball coach Cindy Kolda suggested her struggling hitters take a simplified approach to their at bats: see the ball, hit the ball, do not over think it.

Addison Wickiser / Photo by Sherry Holten

The back to basics approach paid off for the Kahoks, with a 12-2 victory at Breese Central. Eight errors committed by the Cougars (5-1) did not help their cause.

Collinsville (7-3) also adjusted its lineup, dropping leadoff hitter Jessica Ledford into the second slot and installing speedy Becky Gibbs in the leadoff spot. Freshman Emily Lautz got a rare start and hit in the sixth spot.

Gibbs, Ledford and Lautz reached base three times each. Gibbs crossed the plate three times and Lautz contributed three RBI.

The top four in the Kahoks lineup scored nine of the team’s 12 runs. Kassidy Smith got back on track after a couple of subpar games, with two hits, to go along with three runs scored and three RBI. Sarah scrum pitched in with a pair of hits and runs.

Addison Wickiser took a batted ball off her chin early in the game, but rebounded to pitch a five-inning complete game.

“There was some blood,” Kolda said of the sot off the chin. “She had an instant bruise, but she battled back.”

The sophomore’s only runs allowed came in the bottom of the fifth when she hit the Cougars’ eighth-place hitter and surrendered a home run to the nine-hole hitter. Collinsville’s defense backed Wickiser with error free softball.

The Kahoks wasted no time pouncing on the Cougars, scoring five times before the home team held a bat. The first four batters of the game scored, and five of the first six.

Collinsville added two more in the second and five in the third to put the game well beyond reach.

The Kahoks return to the Collinsville Sports Complex for a 4:30 p.m. contest Monday against East Alton-Wood River.