Antelope Valley softball combined walks and timely hitting against the ineffective Lady Raiders pitching in the first inning, sending 12 batters up, as six runs crossed the plate, in a convincing 14-8 victory for Antelope Valley at Moorpark Tuesday.

The Lady Raiders got one back with two out in the bottom of the first when Hanah Roberg’s three base hit sent base runner Montanna Harrington home. The Marauders added another run with two outs in the third when Dani Nabors singled stole second and came home on Alexis Taube’s two-base hit. Moorpark responded in the bottom of the third with two outs, when Roberg’s two-base hit drove Melissa Boundy home from first.

“On the first play of the game, we made an error on a routine out that we should’ve made,” Raiders,” said head coach Dave Fox. “They didn’t compete very well in that first inning. After that, they settled down.”

Moorpark’s pitching improved after the first inning, but the offense couldn’t close the deficit. The Marauders added two runs in the fifth, and the Lady Raiders came back with three in the bottom half of the inning, including Boundy’s two-run home run which just cleared the barrier in left-center field. However, Antelope Valley blew the game open in the sixth with an additional five runs, to seal Moorpark’s fate.

“I’ll do anything I can to help this team,” Boundy said, when asked how she felt about hitting a home run.

The Lady Raiders just wouldn’t quit, and responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Mariana Kedzia doubled, and Harrington walked. Boundy walked to load the bases. Roberg was hit by a pitch walking in a run, and Alyssa Varon’s timely two-base hit drove in two runs to complete Moorpark’s tally.

“The Raiders pitcher struggled a little bit early, and we were able to capitalize on that,” Marauders’ coach, Cindy Vargas said. “I thought we hit the ball really well today. We’ve had too many walks, and were hoping we wouldn’t blow the lead at the end. It was a good win for us.”

The Lady Raiders rally in the sixth inning gave the team another shot to salvage the game by avoiding the Mercy Rule, but three quick outs by Marauders’ pitching in the seventh ended the game and its faint hopes.

“We scored eight runs, and we should be able to win with that,” Fox said. “We had good hitting, and the pitching got better. We didn’t give up.”

The Lady Raiders are now 1-4 on the season, and plays Santa Monica City College next at home on Feb. 12 at 2:30 p.m.