The William Byrd softball girls suffered their first loss of the season last week, but bounced back with two wins to remain in a tie for first place in the Blue Ridge District standings.

Byrd dropped a 2-1 decision to Lord Botetourt in Daleville last week. The Terriers had slaughter-ruled the Cavaliers, 10-0, in the first meeting of the season but this one turned into a pitchers’ duel between Byrd ace Mara Strum and Botetourt’s Meredith Wells.

Maia Folk got the Cavaliers rolling in the bottom of the second with a solo home run to left off Strum. Byrd tied the game in the top of the third when Katie Fuchs scored Alexis West’s sacrifice fly, but  LB answered in the bottom of the inning. Maegan Barnes doubled, moved to third on an  infield out and scored on Lauren Hoffman’s single.

That was all the scoring for the game as LB held on for the win. The Cavaliers loaded the bases in the sixth but could not score, while Byrd left the sacks loaded in the fourth and stranded a leadoff double in the sixth that was the potential tying run.

The Byrd loss was unfortunate for Northside, as the Terriers took it out on the Vikings in back-to-back shutout wins. The Terriers won at home on Friday, 20-0, and followed that with an 11-0 win at Northside on Tuesday of this week.

Last Friday 11 different Terriers had hits and Ellasen Spangler had two home runs. Abby Spotswood also had a home run to highlight “Senior Day” for  both girls. Spangler had four hits and seven runs batted in while Analeigh Huber, West and Spotswood had two hits each. Strum and Jada Karnes split time on the mound.

On Tuesday Strum pitched a one-hitter. Karnes homered in a three-run third inning and Byrd tacked on six more in the top of the fifth. Sydney Burton had three hits n the game and Spangler, Karnes and Strum had two hits each.

Byrd will be back in action tonight with a game at Patrick Henry. On Saturday the Terriers host Hidden Valley with the jayvees at noon and the varsity at 2 pm.