WILLOW WOOD — It wasn’t a perfect start to the softball season, but it was close.

Mandi Estep pitched a no-hitter as she allowed just two base runners to lead the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings to a 10-0 five-inning mercy rule win over the Western Lady Indians Wednesday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

Estep struck out 14, walked one and hit a batter as she tossed five hitless innings.

“That was a good way to start the season and the league. Mandi threw well tonight and we played pretty good defense. We had some key hits throughout the lineup,” Lady Vikings coach Jeff “Odie” Estep said.

Symmes Valley got a run in the first inning when Kayla Justice walked, moved up on a fielder’s choice and scored on a wild pitch.

Three runs scored in the fourth inning.

Rebecca Capper singled, Tasha Pointer reached on a passed ball third strike, Libby Ash walked and Haily Pelletier doubled home two runs. Estep grounded out as Ash scored.

The lead went to 6-0 in the fifth with two outs when Capper doubled and Pointer hit a two-run homer over the fence in centerfield.

Symmes Valley ended the game with four runs in the sixth inning.

Pelletier and Justice walked and Estep reached on an outfield error as two runs scored. Emily Bowling singled in a run and two wild pitches sent Bowling home with the mercy rule run.

Symmes Valley hosts Green Thursday in a pivotal SOC game.

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Leslie and Groves. Mandi Estep and Megan Coomes. W-Estep (14-K, 1-BB, 1-HBP). L-Leslie.2B-SV: Rebecca Capper, Libby Ash, Haily Pelletier. HR-Tasha Pointer. Hitting-SV: Rebecca Capper 2-3, Haily Pelletier 1-2, Libby Ash 1-1, Tasha Pointer 1-3, Megan Coomes 1-4, Emily Bowling 1-3.