The Milan Lady Wildcats got their offense going after struggling against Novinger pitcher Sierra Jacques on Monday night, using the combination of timely hitting and a solid running game to pull out a 4-1 victory in the home opener for the Lady 'Cats at Milan Legion Park.

Milan only had five hits on the night and struck out nine times against Jacques. Senior outfielder Kailyn Watts helped to spark Milan with three stolen bases, with one of those thefts coming in the fifth inning, specifically putting her in position to score on a squeeze bunt by Kaylee Michael to give Milan a 2-0 advantage.

Emily Sylvester helped to spark Milan with a third inning lead-off triple. A bunt by Kaylee Michael two batters later scored Savannah Taylor, who was running for Sylvester.

Novinger's only scoring rally of the night against Milan right-hander Alyssa Forster came in the top of the sixth inning, as a Kendra Shrouf single drove in Maria Gunnels.

Milan picked up some appreciated “breathing room” with two insurance runs in the sixth, when Kaylea Thompson opened with a triple. After Bianca Caponetto reached on a error to score Thompson, Watts singled in Bianca Caponetto to wrap up the scoring.

Milan looks to take the momentum from Monday night's win on the road, headed to Marceline to play the potential district opponent Lady Tigers at 5 o'clock tonight (Tuesday night).

Here are the rest of the high school softball scores from Monday night:

Jefferson 13, Albany 6
Mid-Buchanan 7, Maysville 6
Stanberry 4, East Buchanan 1
DeKalb 11, King City 4
Savannah 14, Plattsburg 2
North Platte 8, Stewartsville 1
Cameron 11, Lathrop 1
Macon 10, Moberly 4
Marceline 14, LaPlata 4
(JV) Milan 12, Novinger 1
Putnam County 6, South Harrison 5
Schuyler County 1, Highland 0
Cainsville 7, Grundy R-5 2
Polo 15, Tri-County 0
Newtown-Harris 16, Gilman City 1
(BOYS) Newtown-Harris 14, Gilman City 6

Grundy R-5 trailed Jefferson 3-2 when a power failure at the Galt Ball Field suspended by in the boy's softball game. The game will resume in the third inning on Tuesday, September 4th when Jefferson returns to Galt.