AHOSKIE – The Lady Bears won their first game of the year here Wednesday afternoon.

The Hertford County softball team beat Ridgecroft 17-7 in a non-conference affair for both schools.

The Lady Rams opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, scoring five runs to take the early lead.

Kara Matney and Keli Martin drew walks before Stephanie Northcott reached on an error to load the bases. A pitch hit Whitney Liverman to force in the first run before Kristina Cooper drew a walk.

Caitlin Harrison delivered an RBI-single before Lauren Lilley and Cooper each scored on wild pitches to give Ridgecroft a 5-0 lead.

The Lady Bears answered immediately, scoring five in the bottom of the same inning.

Lauren Barmer drew a walk before Casey Minton singled to right. On the play, courtesy runner Christina Williams scored on a wild throw by third. Minton took third on the play and scored on a wild pitch.

Tiffany Outlaw walked before Lindsey White reached on a bunt single. Denisha Gatling scored Outlaw on an RBI-single. White and Gatling both scored on wild pitches to tie the contest at 5-all.

HCHS took the lead for good with one run in the bottom of the second stanza.

Barmer singled to right and went to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a White RBI-single that gave the Lady Bears a 6-5 advantage.

Hertford County added six runs in the bottom of the third inning. Megan Nixon walked, Antoniette Lyles singled and Chelsea Pierce was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

RonGina Wilder then drew a walk before Minton delivered a two RBI-single. White added an RBI-single and Outlaw scored on a wild pitch to give Hertford County the 12-5 lead.

Ridgecroft added a run in the top of the fourth when Martin and Northcott drew walks. Martin scored on a Lilley RBI-single.

The Lady Bears scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Lyles singled and scored on a Wilder RBI-double. Wilder scored on a Barmer RBI-single and then Barmer came home on a wild pitch to give Hertford County a 15-6 lead after four inning.

Ridgecroft added a run in the top of the fifth inning. Matney singled and scores when Northcott reached on an error.

The Lady Bears plated two more in the bottom of the fifth.

Gatling and Nixon walked before Lyles singled to load the bases. Gatling scored on a wild pitch, but Pierce walked to reload the bases. Wilder drew a bases-loaded walk to end the game at 17-7.

Lindsay Latham picked up the win for Hertford County.

The Lady Bears had 13 hits, led by White (3-for-4) and Lyles (3-for-3). Barmer was 2-for-3 on the day while Minton checked in at 2-for-4.

Lilley led Ridgecroft offensively, registering a 3-for-4 day at the plate.

&uot;We are a young team,&uot; first-year HCHS coach Rick Heckler said. &uot;We are improving and moving in the right direction. We hit the ball hard today.

&uot;This win is good for our morale,&uot; he added. &uot;Lindsay Latham pitched well for us in a game that showed we can win.&uot;

Hertford County improved to 1-7 on the season while Ridgecroft dropped to 0-7.