The Southland softball team was able to start strong against Winona Cotter, which is ranked No. 4 in Class AA, but the Rebels couldn’t keep it up. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, Southland lost 17-3 in six innings to the Ramblers in Rose Creek Friday.

Southland (2-8 overall, 2-8 Three Rivers) built up its early lead when Lexi Shaw doubled in a run and Morgan Brown doubled in a pair of runs, but Southland didn’t have a hit the rest of the way. Cotter (11-3 overall, 9-1 Three Rivers) took advantage of nine Southland errors as it scored 11 unearned runs.

“We started off the game like we did last night [in a win against Lewiston-Alutra],” Southland head coach Greg Schulte said. “We were hitting the ball well and we were getting around the bases. It’s kind of like we lost focus after a couple of innings. We just couldn’t be in it the whole game, but that first inning was good.”

With its ace pitcher Gabby Bowlin sidelined with an injury, Cotter turned to Alexis Hadaway in the circle.

“They’re a tough team,” Schulte said. “I knew they lost their No. 1 pitcher, but their second pitcher threw strikes and she threw well. We could hit her, but we kind of lost focus.”

Taylor Bhend allowed just two earned runs in six innings in the circle for Southland.

Cotter 0 2 3  3 3 6  —  17  12  0

Southland 3 0 0  0 0 0  —   3    2   9

Southland pitching: Taylor Bhend (L) 4 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 8 R, 2 ER, 2 K, 1 HBP; Lexi Smith, 2 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 9 R, 4 ER, 3 K

Southland hitting: Lexi Smith, 0-for-3; Ramsey Gilson, 0-for-2, BB; Brianna Johnson, 0-for-3; Lexi Shaw, 1-for-3, double, RBI, R; Chelsey Kasel, 0-for-2, R, BB; Morgan Brown, 1-for-3, double, 2 RBIs; Lily Riddles, 0-for-2; Taylor Bhend, 0-for-2; Emily Bhend, 0-for-1, BB