HAMLER -- Patrick Henry grabbed the lead with three runs in the second inning and defeated Defiance 6-4 in softball action on Friday.

Kristen Bostelman hit a single, double and drove in three runs for the Patriots while Natalie Herder had two doubles.

Brooklyn Miller hit a single and double for the Bulldogs and drove in three of the four runs.

"We came out early swinging the bats and put some runs on the board which was good to see," noted Defiance coach Hans Zipfel. "(Shy) Johnson and Miller had good nights at the plate."

Johnson added a pair of singles for the Bulldogs, which committed three errors in the field.

"We made four errors in the field and some base running mistakes that hurt us as well," added Zipfel. "We cannot do that and expect to defeat good teams. We have to learn and apply what we've gained in the future to avoid such foibles."

Defiance took a 1-0 lead in the first but the Patriots tied it in the bottom half of the inning. After the Bulldogs scored two in the second, Patrick Henry responded with three more and never relinquished the lead, scoring a pair in the bottom of the fourth inning as well.

Linescore

Defiance 120 000 1 - 4 7 3

Pat. Henry 130 200 x - 6 8 2

Records: Patrick Henry 4-1, Defiance 2-2.

Winning pitcher: Alison Imbrock (7 innings, 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 strikeout, 0 walks).

Losing pitcher: Josee Hale (6 runs, 8 hits, 4 strikeouts, 1 walk). Other: Essence Vaughn.

Leading hitters: (Defiance) - Brooklyn Miller single, double; Shy Johnson 2 singles; Kathrine Riehle triple. (Patrick Henry) - Natalie Herder 2 doubles; Kristen Bostelman single, double, 3 RBIs.