The Lyle-Pacelli softball team is starting this spring off on a role. The Athletics avenged a 19-9 loss to Mabel-Canton last week by beating Mabel-Canton (5-3 overall) by a score of 6-4 in five innings in a rain-shortened contest in Todd Park Tuesday.

LP sophomore Abbey Neve gave the Athletics a huge boost in the win as she blasted a three-run homer and doubled in two runs to help LP bounce back from an early 2-0 deficit.

The Athletics (4-1 overall) have now matched last season’s win total and it’s been at least five years since LP has won more than four games in a season.

“I just had to focus on the ball and watch the pitches,” Neve said. “We have a lot of confidence now after winning these past few games. We weren’t the best in the past, but we’ve made a lot of progress this season.”

Although they trailed against a team that had beaten them just last week, the Athletics weren’t about to back down on Tuesday.

“We had to focus on ourselves and not worry about what they were doing. We just had to play for ourselves,” Neve said.

LP pitching: Miranda Arkells (W) 5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 R, 6 K

LP hitting: Sam Hinz, 1-for-3, R, BB; Abbey Neve, 2-for-2, HR, double, 5 RBIs; Abby Bollingberg, 1-for-3, double