Lyle/Pacelli put the pressure on Southland, and the youthful Lady Rebels showed their inexperience.

L/P regained sole control of the top spot in the Southast Conference softball standings with a doubleheader sweep of Southland Monday night in Lyle, 7-1 and 8-0.

Amy Bickler struck out a total of 19 would-be Southland hitters, surrendering two hits in each game of the twinbill. She did not walk a batter, and the L/P defense did not commit any errors behind her.

"We refocused after that one loss to Glenville-Emmons, and I'm really proud of the way they came back and played," said L/P coach Tom Clements.

Lyle/Pacelli put runners on and applied pressure with squeeze bunts and baserunning. Southland's young squad was not as prepared as they needed to be.

"I think our inexperience probably came out of our younger kids," said Southland coach Karleen Retterath, "and they really didn't get through that."

L/P (7-1, 7-1) scored twice in the bottom of the first inning of game one, putting the Lady Rebels in a hole they would not escape. Southland (6-3, 5-3) scored just once on Bickler, plating a solo run in the top of the fourth courtesy a passed ball. Lyle/Pacelli led 7-1 at that point.

"We needed to hit, and Bickler pitched a couple of nice games," Retterath said. "It's good experience. I think they learned that they need to come out relaxed and just play ball."

Bickler led L/P's hitting barrage in the first game by going 2-3. Susie Rayman and Louise Mudra were 2-3 as well, accounting for six of the team's 11 hits. Bickler struck out 13 Southland batters in game one, setting the tone for the second match.

Southland again had just two hits and committed three errors in the pressure cooker. Bickler struck out six and L/P collected six hits in the win.

"We just put the ball in play and made them make the plays," Coach Clements said.

Amy Walerak and Cassie Olson suffered the pitching losses for Southland in respective contests.

Kate Boisjolie had what proved to be the game-winning RBI on a groundout in the first inning, and she also accounted for L/P's second run with a squeeze bunt in the third. Back-to-back singles by Bickler and Brianna Enfield plated three more runs for a 5-0 L/P lead.

Bickler and Louise Mudra had two hits apiece, including Mudra's RBI-bunt single in the fourth to drive in Melissa Farrell. Bickler later drove in L/P's final run with her second hit -- a double.

Lyle/Pacelli's next match is today at 4:30 p.m. against Spring Grove/Caledonia at Todd Park. Southland plays its next Southeast Conference doubleheader Thursday as the Lady Rebels host Glenville-Emmons.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.

Linescores:

Game One

Southland000100--121

Lyle/Pacelli20500x--7110

Game Two

Lyle/Pacelli104300--860

Southland000000--023