OWEGO - River Hawks' softball wasted little time making a statement this season by dispatching of the Mountain View Eagles, 12-0 in Thursday's season opener.

Owego jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after one inning. Geneva Crawford drew a walk, and after advancing to second on a pass ball, she scored by tagging up on a Carsten Crawford fly out to right field.

After a scoreless second, OFA tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third. Carsten Crawford hit a one-out single to center and advanced to second on a passed ball with Miley Laubach at the plate. Laubach worked the count full before drawing a walk to now put runners on first and second. Next up was Maia Smith, who flew out to right field, but advanced both runners. Ava Leonard came to bat next and also walked. 

With the bases now loaded, Crawford scored on a passed ball and after a third consecutive walk, Laubach also scored after the ball got by the catcher. Lexi Cheeseman worked the count next to make it four straight walks and bringing in the third run of the inning. Joslynn Space lined out on the following at-bat to end the inning with Owego now ahead 4-0.

Carsten Crawford who got the nod in the circle Thursday, pitched a scoreless top of the 4th. She would not surrender a run all afternoon. It was the bottom of the fourth, however, that ultimately put the game out of reach for the visiting Eagles.

Geneva Crawford opened the inning with a triple and quickly scored after Carsten Crawford grounded into a fielder's choice. Laubach then singled and Smith walked, before Leonard reached first on an error, loading the bases.

An Audrionna Howe single in the next at-bat drove in Labauch and advanced the runners, followed by Izzy Coveney grounding into a fielder's choice and scoring Smith to put the River Hawks' ahead 7-0.

Space brought in the final three runs of the inning with a double to center field. OFA's last two runs of the day were the result of a pair of Ava Leonard and Izzy Coveney RBI's. Both coming in the bottom of the fifth.

Carsten Crawford was stellar in the circle, striking out nine and going four scoreless innings while only allowing two hits and giving up zero runs. She went 1-for-4 offensively, with two runs-batted-in as well.

Space drove in three runs, going 1-for-3 at the plate. Geneva Crawford was 2-for-3, combined with two runs scored. Laubach, Smith and Leonard all reached home multiple times on the day as well. Coveney chipped in going 1-for-2 in the box, with one run scored and two RBI's.

With everyone in Thursday's lineup reaching base and contributing, Coach Emily Crawford was happy with her team's first outing of the season.

"It was a good opening game and we got to see some live pitching after being in the batting cage for so long," said Crawford.

Owego will be at home again on Saturday when they host South Lewis.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MARA SPENCER