Good base running was a contributing factor in the Escambia County High School Lady Blue Devils’ 18-2 victory over Monroe County.

ECHS batters were walked 11 times, were hit by pitches four times and took advantage of passed balls by the Lady Tigers’ catcher to score six of the team’s 18 runs.

“We ran the bases well,” said coach Darryl Otwell. “We try to be aggressive on the base paths and it worked out to our advantage in this game.”

The Lady Blue Devils were also patient on the plate in the win.

“We quit expanding the zone,” Otwell said after the game. “We quit chasing pitches.”

ECHS had six hits in the win.

The Lady Tigers took the lead in the top of the first inning when a runner scored on a hard hit ball to third base that was misplayed. Monroe County led 1-0 at the end of that half inning.

ECHS’ leadoff hitter, Ychele Walker, was walked, Tristen Boothe singled and Jasmine Ireland was walked to load the bases to start the bottom of the first inning. Kaylee Cox came up, but hit into a fielder’s choice that led to Walker being thrown out at home.

Boothe and Ireland each scored on a passed balls to put ECHS up 2-1. Taylor Hill was walked during the next at-bat and Ynetta Craft was hit by a pitch. Cox scored on a passed ball to give the Lady Blue Devils a 3-1 lead.

Heather Davis was hit by a pitch during the ensuing at-bat, which loaded the bases with one out. The next batter, Searria Bullin walked, which scored Hill to give ECHS a 4-1 lead.

The bases remained loaded, but Ashleigh Simpkins struck out, giving the Lady Tigers their second out. Walker hit a single that dropped into right field and scored Craft and Davis to give ECHS a 6-1 lead.

Bullin scored on a single by Boothe to give the Lady Blue Devils a 7-1 lead. A lineout by Ireland ended the inning.

The Lady Tigers were able to must one run in the second before the ECHS defense ended the inning.

Cox was walked and stole second to start the bottom of the second inning. Cox later took third on a passed ball on a pitch to Hill. Hill and the next hitter, Craft, were walked to load the bases. A Davis strikeout gave the Lady Tigers the first out of the inning.

Cox scored on a close play at home and Hill scored on a passed ball to give the Lady Blue Devils an 9-2 lead.

Bullin was walked and Simpkins flew out before Walker single scored Craft and Bullin to give ECHS an 11-2 lead.

Boothe hit a two-out single that scored Walker to give the Lady Blue Devils a 12-2 lead. Ireland reached first base on an error during the next at-bat and Boothe scored giving ECHS a 13-2 lead. Ireland stole second.

Cox was hit by a pitch during the next at-bat and Ireland scored on a double steal attempt that resulted in an error when a ball thrown to third base went into the outfield. The Lady Blue Devils took a 14-2 lead. Cox scored on another passed ball to take a 15-2 lead.

Hill, Craft and Davis were all walked to set up a Bullin single that scored two more runs and gave ECHS a 17-2 lead.

Simpkins was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases for the Lady Blue Devils, but the Lady Tigers got the third out after Davis scored to make it 18-2.

Monroe County was unable to score in the third inning, which ended the game.

In action from Tuesday, the Lady Blue Devils lost a late lead to T.R. Miller and fell 5-4.

Otwell said an error led to two T.R. Miller runs when ECHS led 4-3.

With the win Thursday night, ECHS improved its record to 8-8 overall on the year. The Lady Blue Devils take on J.U. Blacksher on Monday at 4:30 p.m. at Tom Byrne Park.