Chillicothe jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and added two more runs in the fourth before scoring four times in the seventh. The Lady Hornets finished with 13 hits and committed one error, while Benton had four hits and three errors.
Landry Marsh earned the complete-game victory in the circle, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out eight and walking none. Marsh threw 73 strikes on 91 pitches.
At the plate, Ellie Acree went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Kylee Link was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Macie Rodenberg went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk. Hope Donoho drove in two runs, and Ashlynn Daugherty added an RBI. Jordan Foster scored twice on two hits, while Rodenberg also scored twice.
The victory gives Chillicothe a 5-0 MEC record and clinches at least a share of the conference championship. The Lady Hornets have now won the MEC championship outright or shared it for seven consecutive seasons dating back to 2020. Chillicothe has one conference game remaining against Bishop LeBlond.
Thursday’s victory also marked the 17th consecutive win for the Lady Hornets, tying the program record for consecutive victories set by the 2021 team. With a 17-1 overall record, Chillicothe now has an opportunity to establish a new school record with its next win when they play at Smith-Cotton on Saturday.