sports@standard-democrat.com
SIKESTON -- Sikeston's past few games have been forgettable in the mind of Maggie Shepherd.
So, that's what she did. Shepherd forgot about Sikeston's last three losses and led the Lady Bulldogs to a 16-6 win in five innings over Fredericktown Wednesday.
"We were able to forget about our previous games and think about our goals today," Shepherd said. "We put aside our errors and mistakes."
Those same miscues have cost Sikeston dearly since a week ago.
Before Wednesday, Sikeston's three-game skid started with a 12-11 defeat to Chaffee, then an 11-1 romp to Jackson followed by a 10-5 loss to Neelyville. Sikeston's win over Fredericktown gives second-year head coach Eric Voorhees his first 10-win season after ending his inaugural year 6-16. It also puts Sikeston back even at 10-10 on the year.
"One of the things we talked about before this game was process and product," Voorhees said. "The product is sometimes different but our process has to be the same. Sometimes the slaps don't work, bunts don't get down or errors happen but you have to remain true to the process. The product will come around if you do that."
Shepherd, who's close to having a batting average of .600 so far this season, led the Lady Bulldogs with three hits and three RBIs. She had two hits during Sikeston's nine-run first inning. Shepherd hit a single her first at-bat and then a bases-clearing triple later in the inning.
"I think I've learned to be a bit more patient and take a walk if I could get one," Shepherd said about her approach at the plate.
The first six batters for Sikeston all scored a run the first inning. Myca Martin, who had two hits, and Kylie Noe crossed the plate twice.
Sikeston added six more runs in their half of the second to go ahead 15-4. The Lady Bulldogs had just two hits in the inning but took advantage of five walks and a hit batter.
"That's our approach every game -- to get on base any way possible," Shepherd said.
Though Fredericktown scored two runs in the fourth, Sikeston added the deciding run in their half of the inning to make up the final.
Madison Smith earned the win in the circle for Sikeston. She pitched all five innings and gave up 10 hits.
"We've seen success early in the year so we know it works," Voorhees said. "We just have to remain positive. We saw a lull in a couple games and let a few get away from us. Now, I feel like we're ready to make that turn and get ready to where we were earlier in the season."
Sikeston will travel to Benton today to take on Kelly (17-3) at 4 p.m.
Fredericktown 310 20 -- 6 10 5
Sikeston 960 1x -- 16 7 1
WP -- Madison Smith. LP -- Bailey Minx. Multiple hitters: (F) Marissa Lindsey 2-3, Emily Winkleman 2-3, Minx 2-4. (S) Myca Martin 2-3, Maggie Shepherd 3-3. 2B: (F) Hayley Hinkle. 3B: (S) Shepherd.