ADAMS TWP — In its attempt to snap a three-game losing streak, the Mars softball team received a heavy dose of instant offense.

Four home runs — two apiece from Taylor Schmitt and Annalyn Isaacs — paced the Planets to an 11-1 section win over visiting New Castle in five innings Wednesday.

The Planets tallied 13 hits, six of them going for extra bases against New Castle pitcher Morgan Piatt.

“We’re averaging about 15 hits over our last six or seven games,” said Mars coach Mike Bell. “We’re a team that you might not want to run into over the next few weeks. Our sticks have caught fire.”

Mars' Taylor Schmitt (21) heads toward third base following her second home run Wednesday against New Castle. Her teammate, Annalyn Isaacs, also hit two home runs in the Planets’ 11-1 victory in five innings. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Schmitt led off the bottom of the first with a home run to left. Following a one-out double from Alyssa Harris, Isaacs launched her third home run of the season for a 3-0 lead.

Schmitt and Isaacs both hit another long-ball in the bottom of the second, after which the Planet lead reached 7-0.

Schmitt, a junior catcher, has power normally not associated with a leadoff hitter. She also hit a pair of home runs in a game against Western Beaver earlier this season.

“Before the season, we had her in the fourth spot in our order, but said: ‘We’ve got to get her in the top spot,’” said Bell. “She gives us quality at-bats and does a great job of starting the offense.”

Schmitt has responded with a breakout season.

“I batted in the low .300s last year, but my average coming into today was .465,” said Schmitt. “Batting leadoff has given me a lot of confidence.

Mars pitcher Alyssa Harris (30) throws a strike in the top of the 2nd inning on Wednesday afternoon in their game vs New Castle. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/26/23

“Both of my home runs today came on pitches that were high and inside. I’ve gotten a lot of work in with my hitting coaches, Chase Rowe and Sean Lubin, and they’ve really helped me.”

Isaacs finished the game with five RBI.

Mars' Annalyn Isaacs (2) points one finger to the outfield to show how many outs Mars has in the top of the 1st inning in a game vs New Castle on Wednesday afternoon. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/26/23

“This was a big win for us,” she said. “Our last game (a 6-5 defeat to South Fayette on Monday), we were leading until the very end and it was a very tough loss. We all came together to get this win today.”

Mars' Taylor Schmitt rounds 3rd and gives her coach, Mike Bell, 5 after she hit her leadoff home run in Mars' home game vs. New Castle on Wednesday afternoon. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/26/23

“She is a Hoover at third base for us, a very big part of our defense,” Bell said of Isaacs. “But she’s been really strong with the bat, too.”

Mars' Annalyn Isaacs makes contact with the ball in a game vs. New Castle on Wednesday afternoon. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/26/23

Harris cruised through New Castle’s lineup. She set the Red Hurricanes (4-9, 1-6) down in order in the second and third and of the first 13 batters she faced, just two reached safely on errors.

New Castle avoided the shutout when Olivia Hood reached on a fielding miscue in the fourth, stole second and scored on her team’s lone hit of the game, a two-out single from Tamiyah Kimmel.

The Planets (6-6, 4-3) plated four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Abby Robinson, Mayson Kennedy, Lindsey Gourash and Schmitt combined for four straight RBI-singles.

Mars' Stephanie Esswein slides into 3rd base, beating the throw in a game vs. New Castle on Wednesday afternoon. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle 4/26/23

New Castle 000 10x x — 1 1 2

Mars 340 4xx x — 11 13 2

WP: Alyssa Harris 5IP (9K, 0BB). LP: Morgan Piatt (1K, 3BB).

New Castle (4-9, 1-6): Tamiyah Kimmel 1B RBI

Mars (6-6, 4-3): Taylor Schmitt 1B 2HR 3RBI, Alyssa Harris 1B 2B, Annalyn Isaacs 2HR 3R 5RBI, Stephanie Esswein 2-1B R, Laura Craska 3B R, Abby Robinson 1B R RBI, Mayson Kennedy 1B RBI, Lindsey Gourash 1B RBI

Thursday: Moon at Mars