UNION SPRINGS - It was a slow start for the Union Springs girls softball team against Marathon Wednesday.

But things picked up quickly.

The Wolves fell behind 1-0 in the first inning but caught fire in the third to earn a 7-2.

The bottom of the second inning showed promise for the Wolves as they quickly loaded the bases with no outs, but Olympians pitcher Michelle Stevens picked up a couple strikeouts to prevent the Wolves from crossing the plate.

Making her varsity debut for the Wolves, Emily Haff got the bottom of the third inning started after being walked by Stevens. Haff ended up stealing second and third when Hannah Moniz stepped up to the plate and delivered an RBI double to bring Haff home for her first varsity run.

Haff ended a successful first game going 1-and-3 at the plate with one walk and two runs.

“We really got the bats going strong and started hitting the ball hard in the third inning,” Wolves head coach Bob Arliss said. “Some singles put pressure on them on the bases.”

The pressure continued to mount as Wolves pitcher, senior Jillian Thomas, started the fourth inning with two strikeouts, only giving up a single and then striking out the next batter to end the inning. The Wolves ended the fourth still up, 2-1.

The Olympians attempted a comeback with a strong fifth inning, after Thomas struck out the first two batters back to back. Casie Wood had a two-out hit to center field toward the fence for a triple followed by Stevens hitting a RBI single and tied it up, 2-2.

Moniz was walked in the bottom of the fifth, where she earned herself her first of two stolen bases of the night and was brought home by an RBI double from Sue Nanna. Another run was brought in on an RBI single by Meg Murray to extend the Wolves lead, 4-2.

“We played really well late in the game,” Moniz said. “Nanna had a nice play to end the game and Haff had a good game after moving up from JV.”

The sixth inning sealed the deal for the Wolves as they earned two more runs. Moniz hit another RBI single bringing Haff home again, and she stole second and earned her third run of the night, pushing the lead to 6-2.

“Everybody pulled together as a team and that is what really made the difference towards the end,” Thomas said. “I played a lot better today than I have been playing.”

Thomas definitely pulled through in the sixth and seventh inning for the Wolves, only allowing two hits in both innings. Thomas ended the game with 14 strikeouts, two walks and allowing only two runs.

Leading the Wolves was Moniz, going 1-for-3 with a walk, three runs, two stolen bases and two RBIs.

Also producing for the Wolves, Kelly Pinckney went 1-and-3 with a walk, one run and two stolen bases.

Shelby Freligh was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, Thomas was 1-for-4, Nanna went 1-and-2 with two walks and an RBI double and Murray was 1-for-4 with an RBI single.

The Olympians' Stevens took the loss with eight strikeouts, five walks and allowed seven runs.

Pacing the Olympians was Wood who went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored both of the runs along with two stolen bases.

“We got off to a slow start and we can't do that every day,” Arliss said. “We finally woke up to play and Stevens pitched very efficiently and very well. Marathon is a good team with a nice defense, they kept it close until the bottom of the sixth. We can't start out like that and expect to beat them again.”

The Wolves (3-1) will have to face the Olympians again Monday in Marathon.