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Syracuse • Followers of the Region 2 softball race should, of course, continue to check for updates. But, at least for now, it's advantage Syracuse at the top of the standings after a 6-4 victory over visiting Davis on Friday.

Syracuse and West entered the day tied for first - both with one loss. Davis, which beat Syracuse earlier in the season, was just a game back.

The Titans had just beaten West 12-2 the week before to claim their spot on the top rung, but Syracuse coach Kelly Anderson said the win over the Darts on this day was more typical.

"That's kind of us - we're scrappers. We've got a lot of kids with a little bit of speed, so we're gonna try to utilize things like that," Anderson said. "Put it in play and see what happens."

Most of the runs for Syracuse (18-2-2, 7-1) came via rallies that wouldn't be considered impressive by usual standards.

A two-run first inning for the Titans came via two walks, a Davis error, a passed ball and a wild pitch - and no hits.

In the fifth, Syracuse did have three singles in a three-run frame. But two of the hits were of the infield variety while Kemir Curtis' RBI-single - which just got past Davis shortstop Paige Elkins - was the only ball to get into the outfield.

The one hard shot for the home team came in the sixth and added an insurance run to the Syracuse count. Mindi Zaugg slugged a triple to deep right-centerfield and scored on a wild pitch.

In the meantime, Titans' sophomore pitcher Ashtyn Bauerle pitched a solid game after recovering from a rough second inning.

Davis (12-7, 6-3) loaded the bases against Bauerle in the second after a hit-batsman, a walk and a bunt single by Elkins. Bailee Mouritsen then cleared the bags with an opposite-field shot to right for a double and a 3-2 Darts lead.

But Bauerle settled down and then set down seven straight Davis batters from the third to the fifth innings and struck out the side in the fourth.

"She kind of got in a groove, found her release point and made some good pitches," "She did a good job, she's a battler. When she's on, she's got really good stuff."

The Darts, which beat Syracuse 7-5 on their home turf earlier in the region slate, did get one more run in the top of the seventh when Elkins found the right-center gap for a triple and Page Reynolds then doubled her in with a drive to center.

Bauerle however recorded one more strikeout, her sixth of the game, to end the day.

"Every time we play Syracuse, it's a close game. It's a fun game to be a part of," Davis coach Myley Zachman said.

Davis sophomore pitcher Mia Cullimore, for her part, only allowed four hits in a hard-luck loss.

"She threw a great game, did all that we asked her to do - what can you say," Zachman said. "Balls didn't bounce our way, we didn't make some plays and Syracuse did today."

Davis 030 000 1 - 4 6 2

Syracuse 200 031 - 6 4 1

Leading hitters: S Mindi Zaugg 1-3 3B, Kemir Curtis 1-3 1RBI, Ashtyn Bauerle 1-2; D Page Reynolds 3-4 2B 1RBI, Bailee Mouritsen 1-2 2B 3RBI, Paige Elkins 2-3 3B. Battery: S Bauerle and Lauren Andreason; D Mia Cullimore and Mycol Burch. Win: Bauerle. Loss: Burch. Rec.: S 18-2-2, 7-1 in Region 2; D 12-7, 6-3. —

Storylines

R Syracuse (18-2-2, 7-1) scores twice in the first inning without recording a hit and goes on to a 6-4 victory over Davis (12-7, 6-3) in Region 2. • Titans' sophomore pitcher Ashtyn Bauerle recovers from a rough second inning to shut down the Darts. • Davis sophomore pitcher Mia Cullimore allows only four hits in the loss.