Belleville West jumped out on top of the Kahoks 5-0 after one inning Thursday and cruised to an 8-2 Southwestern Conference victory in Collinsville.

Audrey Allard / Photo by Sherry Holten

The Maroons (7-7, 4-1 SWC) benefitted from a fortuitous bounce in the first when Olivia Young’s long drive bounced off the top of the fence and over for a three-run home run. The Kahoks (10-8, 1-5 SWC) countered with a single run of their own in the first, on an RBI sacrifice fly by Kassidy Smith, but could muster little else the remainder of the game.

Collinsville Head Coach Cindy Kolda said her team’s timing was off at the plate, and they were trying too hard to drive the ball deep.

“The long ball isn’t going to win a game when you’re down six,” Kolda said.

Belleville West put up single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth. Alex Holten had an RBI single in the fourth to cap the scoring for the Kahoks.

Despite the lopsided score, Kolda said here team played a solid defensive game. Collinsville has struggled at times defensively this year, but played error-free softball Thursday.

Caitlyn Brombolich started for Collinsville and gave up five runs on three hits and a walk in 2/3 of an inning. She also hit a batter. Addison Wickiser threw the final 6 and 1/3 allowing three runs on 11 hits, walking three and fanning three.

Collinsville has now lost five of six. The Kahoks travel to Belleville West for a 4:30 game Tuesday. The contest is a make-up for a game rained out earlier this year.