By GEORGE MAHL – Sports Editor

RESERVE – The Riverside Academy Lady Rebels moved one step closer to the state tournament with an easy 10-0 victory over Livonia on Monday afternoon.

RA starting pitcher Megan Warner allowed one hit and struck out six in the victory.

The game was called in the fifth inning because of the 10-run mercy run.

“It’s one game at a time for us,” Warner said. “We’re looking at this as our second season when everything counts.”

The big inning for the Lady Rebels happened in the bottom of the fifth.

A lead-off single by Holly Ocmand was followed by a Livonia error, which allowed Kayla Poirrier to reach scored and Ocmand to score.

Following a strike out, right-fielder Jenna St. Amant reached first on a single.

Two consecutive throwing errors by the Lady Wildcats resulted in two more runs in the inning. An error by centerfielder Misty Richard and an error by Livonia pitcher Joy Galloway allowed St. Amant to score from third.

With Brittany Kelly and Lisa Lambert reaching base on a fielder’s choice, Meggie Martin reached second on an error from left-fielder Alaina Stagg. The error allowed Kelly and Lambert to score.

Poirrier scored the first run of the game for the Lady Rebels. Poirrier doubled, reached third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of St. Amant.

The Lady Rebels got three more runs on three hits in the bottom of the third. Riverside loaded the bases with no outs. Kelly led off the inning with walk and advanced to third on two Lady Rebel hits, one from Martin and one from Lambert. A fielder’s choice from Daphne Zimmer allowed Kelly to score from first base.

Then, Ocmand doubled home Martin and Zimmer, giving the Lady Rebels a 4-0 lead.

Riverside got another run in the bottom of the fourth. After Lambert singled and stole second, Martin smashed a double that plated Lambert for the Lady Rebels fifth run of the game.

Through the first four innings, Lady Wildcat hitters were unable to manage anything against Warner. She pitched to the minimum 12 batters and struck out five without allowing a hit. Livonia did not get their first hit until there were two outs in the top of the fifth.

A double by Stagg was the lone hit the Lady Wildcats got.

RA will play the winner of Doyle/South Beauraguard.

(2-3, run scored).