Fuquay (12-2, 9-1), currently second place in the Tri-Nine Conference, scored at least five runs in every inning but a scoreless first. It was the kind of dominant performance that coach Deb Clarke was looking forward to heading into next week’s showdowns with third-place Apex and first-place Holly Springs.

The Bengals are hoping to win their eighth conference title in 10 years after finishing fourth in the league last season. Not that it hurt the team’s postseason success – the Bengals made it to the 4-A Final Four for the second straight year.

“I asked [the team] to step up and work on some things so we could go 13-0 for the second part of the season,” Clarke said. “We always set goals to win conference titles and do the best in the playoffs that we can.”

Shortstop Alexa Cannon hit two three-run home runs and added an RBI single for seven RBIs. Also with seven RBIs was freshman first baseman Kelsey Ward – who ripped a two-run home, a grand slam and a RBI single – despite being the ninth batter in the Fuquay lineup.

Also joining the home run act were center fielder Camise Patterson with her two-run blast in the second and right fielder Lindsay Barrett with a solo shot to start the third.

“We didn’t let our guard down even though the score was going up,” Cannon, a senior, said.

The Bengals combined for 25 hits and 10 players had at least one RBI.

On the mound, Ratcliff, a sophomore, struck out six batters, walked one and allowed two others to reach base by error – her errors in fact. But not a single Catamounts batter got a hit or even lifted a ball into the outfield.

“I didn’t really want to think about it,” Ratcliff said.

Ratcliff is the left-handed half of Fuquay’s sophomore pitching duo, teaming up with Alissa Dean.

“We’re confident in our pitchers. We have good hitting to back them up but we really rely on our pitchers and they’ve really stepped up so far,” Cannon said.

It was a tough loss to stomach for Panther Creek (1-9, 0-8), which is under the leadership of its third coach in three seasons.

“Once we get some established coaching I can build a program,” Panther Creek coach Heather Laners said. “Having different coaches is a hard transition for [the players]."