Photo by Kim North Martins Ferry’s Kendyl Brandon (1) is forced out at second base as Monroe Central’s Jadyn Miller (12) prepares to throw the ball to first during Saturday’s game in Martins Ferry. The Purple Riders won, 7-3, improving to 13-1.

MARTINS FERRY – There was no sign of a prom hangover from the Martins Ferry softball Saturday afternoon when it hosted Monroe Central in a battle of one-loss teams.

Junior Maddie Lucas struck out a career-high 13 Seminoles and classmates Gracie Lucas drove in three runs and Giana Chirpas belted a two-run homer as the Purple Riders (13-1) continued their fine play with a 7-3 victory high atop the Purple City under clear blue skies.

“We didn’t do everything we wanted to do great today, but this team had only one loss,” Magistro said. “We showed today that we can play with the best of them. That was a good Monroe Central team.”

Gracie Lucas drove in Makayla Cole with an RBI single in the bottom of the first to make it 1-0. Giana Chirpas, who was walked, scored from third on a wild pitch to bump the count to 2-0.

The Seminoles broke through against Maddie Lucas in the fourth when Brylee McFrederick singled to left with one out and then stole second. She advanced to third on a groundout before racing home on a wild pitch.

Gracie Lucas once came through after a walk to Chirpas in the third as her single to center chased home her cousin, Maddie Lucas as the margin grew to 3-1. Gracie Lucas also had a run-scoring groundout in the fourth that made it 4-1.

“Gracie, again, I’ve been happy with her being in that spot,” Magistro said of his cleanup hitter. “I’ve got to give her credit, when they walk Giana she has been making them pay for it.”

Kamryn doubled to left leading off the Monroe Central sixth and Kennadi Jorris lined a two-run home over the fence in left-center to cut the deficit to 4-3 and ensuing base-on-balls brought the Seminoles dugout alive.

However, Maddie Lucas bore down and struck out the next three batters to snuff out the threat.

With a runner on in the bottom of the sixth, Monroe Central decided to pitch to Chirpas and the Ohio University recruit made them pay with a two-run blast to deep left-center. An error allowed another run to score for the final.

“I told the girls when the second pitcher came in that she liked to throw the ball low and Giana was all over it,” Magistro said.

Of Maddie Lucas’s 13 strikeouts, six were looking and ended the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. She threw 122 pitches, of which 78 were strikes. She scattered five hits.

“Maddie did a good job today. That was a really good hitting Monroe Central team and she held them to five hits,” Magistro noted.

The Lucas Cousins evenly divided four singles. Tori Long had a double.

The Purple Riders were patient at the plate as they drew 10 walks off a pair of Monroe Central hurlers.

“We had a couple of chances. We just didn’t hit like we normally do,” Monroe Central head coach Paris Yoho said. “She’s a good pitcher, though, but I think we can play with them. We’re young, but that’s not an excuse. That’s why you play the game.”

Winland had a single and double for Monroe Central.