ST. JOE – It was a season opener, but the Bellaire bats were in mid-season form.

The debuting Lady Big Reds banged out 16 hits en route to a 14-7 win over Union Local Wednesday afternoon.

“For the season opener I was really happy with how hit the ball,” Bellaire head coach Dave Menendez said. “We got contributions up and down the lineup. It was a nice way to open the season.”

Union Local, meanwhile, fell to 0-3. The Lady Jets dropped a twinbill to Indian Creek Saturday.

Bellaire and Union Local will renew acquaintances today at Morristown.

In addition to the Lady Reds’ hitting onslaught, they received a solid pitching performance from senior Marissa Pacifico. She went the route, striking out eight and walking four. She was exceptional over the final three innings, allowing just one run.

“Marissa really settled down and pitched a solid game,” Menendez said. “She got better as the game went on. She is going to pitch next year for a junior college.”

The game couldn’t have started any better for Union Local as senior ace Alli Kellaway drilled the first pitch over the right-center field fence.

The Big Reds, however, battled back to take a 2-1 lead after two innings before a scoring outburst unfolded in the third inning, as each team plated four runs in that frame.

Union Local received a two-run single from Kyra Malcom and run-scoring singles from Mati Brooks and Lili Blakely for a 5-2 advantage.

The Lady Reds responded with a four-spot of their own in the home-half of the third.

Pacifico helped her own cause with an RBI single while Emilee Menendez, Jaela Phillips and Elisa Gillespie all delivered run-scoring singles, enabling the hosts to regain a 6-5 advantage.

Bellaire put the game out of reach with fours runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.

In the fifth, senior standout Addison Kovach ripped a two-run RBI double while Menendez added a two-run triple.

In the sixth, Lily Zeller knocked in two runs with a triple while Kovach drove in two more Reds with a home run deep over the left-center field fence. Kovach is coming off a stellar junior season in which she slammed 14 home runs.

“We started off really well but then it got away from us,” Union Local rookie head coach Bridget Brooks said. “But give Bellaire credit. They really hit the ball well.”

Evie Blakely started in the circle for Union Local. She gave way to Kylie Stidd with no outs in the third. They combined for three walks and two strikeouts.

Lili Blakely led the Lady Jets’ eight-hit attack with two singles. Kellaway reached base three times, coaxing two walks to go with her home run. She also stole three bases.

Kovach and Menendez paced Bellaire with three hits each while Calleigh Holt, Zeller, Phillips, Gillesie and Pacifico all registered two hits.

“In addition to our hitting we did a nice job in the field. We committed just one error,” Menendez noted. “We were solid in all three phases. It was a very good way to start the season.