CHERRY TWP — Sliding into second base was the only thing Kayla Campbell didn't think went smoothly.

Considering the heavy amount of rain the Moniteau softball field absorbed in the previous 24 hours, Campbell was pleased with the footing on the infield Thursday night.

Warriors coach Dan Beebe started working on the field at 7 a.m. and finished just after 4 p.m. before the start of Moniteau's 13-2, five-inning win over Clarion-Limestone.

Campbell, who was 2 for 3 with an RBI, got to test out the infield when she lofted a ball into left-center field in the second inning.

“It wasn't too bad. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be,” Campbell said. “Sliding hurt a little bit. (Beebe) works hard. He put a lot of work into it and does a lot of work for the team.”

All the work forced Beebe to miss some time before the game.

“I wasn't involved in the warm-ups. That's the nature of our game with the weather,” Beebe said. “One less game that we have to make up and we got the win. It was worth it.”

The Warriors (12-0) put some serious work in at the plate. Moniteau put the ball in play, collected eight hits and benefitted from seven errors by the Lions (4-4).

“They are a good team. They continue to put pressure on you,” Clarion-Limestone coach Tom Speer said. “We didn't respond to it. We made a lot of mistakes and errors and our heads weren't in it.”

An early threat from the Lions helped motivate the Moniteau offense. Warriors pitcher Kennedy DeMatteis, who earned the win and finished with six walks, struggled with her control early.

The first two batters walked and Bree Speer singled to load the bases with no outs in the first inning. She then settled down, working out of the jam with two strikeouts and a flyout.

Freshman Gabby Stewart then set the tone for the Warriors offense. She singled just past the first baseman and advanced to third when the ball got past the right fielder and to the fence.

Stewart also hit the ball to the same spot in the second inning to drive in Campbell.

“I've always been taught to see where I want to hit the ball and hit it there,” said Stewart, who finished 2 for 2 with 2 RBI. “The first baseman was looking weak in the warm-up, so I was opening my stance up to place it there.”

Alyssa Dailey grounded out to first to score Stewart and give Moniteau the lead. Cortney Claypoole also drove in a run in the first and later doubled.

“It was good to get the base runners on and put the ball in play,” Beebe said. “We were aggressive on the base paths and they made a few mistakes and they capitalized on it.”

Moniteau added three more runs in the second inning, thanks to two errors by the Lions. Clarion-Limestone loaded the bases again in the third inning, but could only plate one run.

In the third inning, the Warriors put the game out of reach. Moniteau plated six runs to push the score to 11-1. Campbell felt the Warriors adjusted well to Clarion-Limestone pitcher Alyssa Kiser.

“She pitched it right where we're used to hitting,” Campbell said. “She had good speed. We don't like it too slow.”

The final three runs were scored thanks to good awareness from DeMatteis. She singled to the outfield with the bases loaded, scoring Stewart and Campbell.

DeMatteis, caught between first and second base, managed to elude the Clarion-Limestone defenders long enough for Dailey to score from first.

Clarion-Limestone 010 01 — 2 3 7

Moniteau 236 2x — 13 8 1

W: Kennedy DeMatteis 5IP (K, 7BB). L: Alyssa Kiser 4IP (K, BB).

Clarion-Limestone (4-4): Bree Speer 1B, Megan Kelley 1B 2B

Moniteau (12-0): Gabby Stewart 2 1B, Kennedy DeMatteis 2 1B, Kayla Campbell 1B 2B, Cortney Claypoole 1B 2B, Kristina DeMatteis 1B

Monday: Moniteau at Karns City