MAYO, Fla. — Behind a complete-game shutout from pitcher MacKenzie Taylor and a strong showing from the middle of the order, the Suwannee softball team defeated Lafayette 5-0 Friday at LHS.

Taylor threw strikes and let her defense work as she allowed just three hits and no walks. She struck out five and was able to get out of two difficult situations. Lafayette put runners on first and third base with one out in the first inning and then hit a leadoff double in the fourth inning, but Taylor kept the Hornets off the scoreboard.

Offensively, the Bulldogs were led by their 3-4-5 hitters Karis Smith, Maci Brown and Kaiya Hurst. Smith went 2-3 with a double and an RBI, Hurst was 2-4 with a double and Brown hit a home run and finished with two RBIs.

“I’m real proud of them. The record may not show it, but I think we’re playing really good ball,” said Suwannee coach Jeff Smith, whose team improved to 5-8 on the season. “A lot of improvement over the last three weeks.

“Kenzie pitched a really good game and we had a few balls drop in for us tonight.”

SHS started the scoring in the top of the third inning with two runs. Carson Frier (1-3, BB, two runs) got Suwannee going with a double to start the frame. 

The Bulldogs plated two runs in the fifth inning and one run in the seventh.

Richelle McDonald, McKenzie Winburn and Jenna Nall had the only hits of the night for the Hornets, who couldn’t get their bats going. LHS was coming off a good offensive performance and a big win against Class 7A Columbia.   

“We had a couple of opportunities early that we didn’t get hits and that gave them a little momentum,” said Lafayette coach Derek Garland. “First and third first inning with one out, didn’t get that run in. Against Lake City, we got those hits. That was the difference. 

“We’ve just got to try and get our bats going. If we do that, we’re going to be ok. We’ve pitched and played decent defense.”

McDonald went the distance in the circle for Lafayette (5-7) and fanned six hitters.