Going 2-3 during the month of August, Randis Sanders’ Belle Lady Tigers looked to open September with a victory to even their record at 3-3.

Hosting Cuba’s Lady Wildcats at Belle City Park last Wednesday, it was not only Belle’s home opener but also their first game in Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) softball action.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, the Lady Tiger bats woke up to the tune of 17 runs over the next four innings before going on to a 17-2 victory over the visitors from Crawford County.

Batting around their lineup in the bottom of the first inning, Belle turned three hits, two walks and two errors into five runs.

Nevaeh Kinsey, Miranda Sanders and Tajel McDaniel each had RBI base hits in the inning.

Scoring for the Lady Tigers in the bottom half of the first were Natalie Gehlert, Ryleigh Long, Gracie Rehmert, Illeana Sullinger and Kinsey.

Seeing Emma White retire the side in the top of the second inning, Belle looked to give her additional run support in the bottom half of the second.

Eight batters came to the plate for the Lady Tigers leading to four more runs.

Kinsey delivered the big blow of the inning with a 2-RBI triple scoring Long and White.

Later in the inning, Kinsey stole home giving Belle a 9-1 lead after two innings over Cuba.

Giving a run back in the top of the third on a walk and an error, the Lady Tigers were eight runs away from ending the game in the bottom of the third inning via the 15-run mercy rule after three innings.

Seeing 11 batters come to the plate, Belle nearly ended the game in three innings.

Instead, they scored seven runs on two hits and four walks.

To start the bottom of the third inning, Belle’s first six batters reached safely in McDaniel, Savannah Perkins, Gehlert, Long, Rehmert and White.

Long added to her RBI single the previous inning with a 3-run home run in the bottom of the third.

McDaniel, Rehmert and Sanders all stole home while White scored on a dropped third strike to account for Belle’s third-inning runs.

Holding Cuba scoreless in the top of the fourth inning, Belle needed just one run to end the game.

Rehmert started a two-out rally with a single before scoring on a White RBI single to end the game.

Earning the complete-game victory, White allowed two runs on one hit and one walk to go with one strikeout.

Long led the Lady Tiger offense against Cuba with two hits, three runs scored and four RBIs.

Kinsey was close behind with two hits, two runs scored and three RBIs. Gehlert, Sanders and McDaniel each also had multi-hit games with two.

With little time to celebrate the victory, Belle returned to action the next night (Thursday) in a Highway 89 softball showdown against Linn’s Lady Wildcats in Osage County.

Trailing 4-1 after three innings, Belle saw Linn score the game’s final seven runs before falling 11-1 in five innings.

Long singled and scored Belle’s lone run in the top of the third inning in addition to having a team-high two hits for the Lady Tigers.

Playing their third game in three days Friday, Belle dropped a 9-0 decision on the road at Iberia.

Recording hits for the Lady Tigers against the Lady Rangers were Rehmert, Sullinger and Perkins.