HAMPTON – When one player got on base, seemingly everyone got on base.

That’s how the Webster City softball team opened up Wednesday’s North Central Conference road battle against Hampton-Dumont and the Lynx weren’t finished until they had put nine runs on the scoreboard in the opening inning. They went on to top the Bulldogs 10-5.

“We came out really strong in that first inning,” WCHS head coach Jess Howard said. “When we can get our first and second batters on (base) it just builds the confidence for everyone else.”

Sisters Allie and Haley Flaws set the tone with back-to-back base knocks off Bulldogs’ pitcher Ashlyn Hansen and they were just two of seven hits WCHS (3-0, 3-0 NCC) rattled off in the frame. Gabbi Hoversten laced a RBI single and Taylor Schnathorst delivered the big blow – a bases-loaded double into the gap that brought three more runs to the dish.

Back at the top of the order, the Flaws sisters added two more hits and Kali Dawson roped a RBI single.

Haley Flaws led the Lynx with a 3 for 5 night at the plate and she scored two runs. Allie Flaws finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Dawson also drove in two runs, while Courtney Lampman and Cynthia Whitehill added singles.

Marie Bertran came off the WCHS bench to belt a double.

The Lynx built their lead to 10-0 in the third, but Hampton-Dumont (1-1, 1-1 NCC) answered with five runs in the last half of the third. Cassy Miller and Callie Grover both clubbed two-run singles.

“Defensively, when Hampton scored its runs, we just need to make sure we’re making better decisions with the ball,” Howard said.

Hoversten settled down and earned the win. The senior right-hander allowed seven hits; she struck out five and walked just one.

WCHS will return to its home turf tonight to host Fort Dodge St. Edmond (1-4, 1-2 NCC) at 7:15 p.m.