Three days after the game was originally postponed due to inclement weather, the Collinsville softball team lost 5-3 to conference foe Belleville East in a preview of the first round of Regional action.

Caitlyn Brombolich / Photo by Sherry Holten

The Kahoks (15-15, 3-9 Southwestern Conference) fell behind early after Belleville East (24-5, 9-3) pushed a run across in the top of the first, and by the middle of the fourth inning, the Kahoks were down 5-0.

Collinsville Head Coach Cindy Kolda said pitcher Addison Wickiser made the adjustments she needed to make.

“After the [fourth] inning, she really buckled down and threw [three] scoreless innings against a very powerful hitting team,” Kolda said. Anytime you can do that, you have to call that a success.”

Wickiser allowed five hits and struck out two. The Lancers scored 10 runs the first game the two teams played this season.

Collinsville’s first run of the day came in the fourth inning, when the Kahoks found their groove at the plate.

Second baseman Caitlyn Brombolich hit a single and then scored on a double from Sarah Scrum. The lined shot just found its way over the right fielder’s head, reaching the outfield fence. Scrum later scored on a single from third baseman Samantha Buettner.

Singles from first baseman Alex Holten and shortstop Audrey Allard followed, but the inning ended with a strikeout.

In the fifth inning, with one out and two runners on, catcher Kassidy Smith came to bat with the score 5-2 Belleville East. She walked to load the bases for Scrum.

Scrum hit a short dribbler that the Lancers could not handle, and center fielder Becky Gibbs scored. A groundout and a strikeout ended the inning with the score 5-3.

Collinsville had five total hits. Brombolich had two singles, while Allard had one. Scrum had a double and two RBIs.

Kolda said it would have been nice to score a couple more runs in the inning.

“I wish we would have taken a little more advantage,” Kolda said. “They made a few errors on defense.”

While the Kahoks spread their hits out, Kolda said they did not quit.

“They worked hard. It’s one of those games,” Kolda said. “It’s a loss, but it’s not a bad loss. We see them again in a couple weeks, so hopefully we can get them that time.”

The Kahoks’ next game is at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Edwardsville.