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Mercy pitcher JJ Francis is good enough to beat some teams by herself, but the Jaguars' outstanding defense behind her was the key factor in a 2-0 softball victory at Male on Thursday night.

"This was really a great defensive game for us," Francis said after scattering four hits, striking out eight and walking only one batter in Mercy's eighth win in 13 games. "It shows how we're capable of playing."

Mercy coach Josh Bloomer seconded that.

"That's the defense we've been looking to play all season," he said. "We have four kids playing their positions for the first time this season. One is our freshman shortstop, Erika Downey. She was huge tonight.

"We made several fielder's choice plays that killed their rallies. Erika has an unbelievable future, and she had one huge hit."

Asked if she expected to start at shortstop in her first high school season, Downey said, "I wasn't sure. I was hoping I would."

Downey opened the third inning for Mercy (8-5) with a single to center field off Alison Conrad. She moved to second base on a groundout by Morgan Meyer. Morgan Ellington then hit the ball back to Conrad, whose toss to Ashley Crabtree got away from the first baseman and Downey scored all the way from second base.

"When the ball got away from the first baseman I started running," Downey said.

Brandi Ratterman and Francis, who had two hits, singled to open the fourth, but Ratterman was thrown out trying to reach third base. After Katie Kissel struck out and Amanda Schumacher walked, Downey singled sharply to right-center field to score Jessica Hackel, who was running for Francis.

Downey's single knocked Conrad out of the game in favor of sophomore Ally Miozza, who struck out four and held Mercy hitless over the last 31/3 innings. But Mercy's defense kept the Bulldogs (10-2) off the scoreboard.

Male's Taylor Messex led off the bottom of the first with a long fly ball to left field that Ratterman made an over-the-shoulder catch at the fence.

"She had a solid hit, but I knew Brandi would get it," Francis said. "I trust her."

The win gave Mercy the No. 1 seed in next month's 25th District tourney and an automatic bid into the Seventh Region tourney, which Mercy won last year.

"Mercy did play great defense, but they benefitted by the wind blowing in," Male coach John Hammond said after his team's first game in 11 days.

"I'm proud of our effort, but I think we can play better. We showed we're not scared of Mercy."

http://www.highschoolsports.net/local/lo...down-Male/