LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Three runs in two games isn’t a lot, but it is enough to extend North Laurel‘s winning streak. Corbin out hit North Laurel Friday 6-3, but lost the game 2-1.

“It’s always a concern when you are not scoring, but I know we are capable of heating up,” North Laurel coach Rogers Strong said. “I think we just need a big hit in a crucial situation.”

The Lady Jaguars were coming off a 1-0 in over Rockcastle County a night earlier. They are averaging over six runs per game. All five losses have come in games when they scored five runs or fewer.

“We’re still gloving it. We’re getting good pitching. I think our hitting will come back around,” Strong said.

Most of Corbin’s offense came in the first inning. The Lady Redhounds stroked four of their six hits in the first inning and scored their only run.

“Truthfully that was my fault. In the first inning, I called a very poor game. We made some adjustments after that and did a whole lot better. I will take all the blame for that,” Strong said.

All of the outs in the first inning were made by Mikayla Vires, who played a key role defensively for North Laurel. The North Laurel right fielder threw out a runner at second in the first inning. She would also throw out two runners at first base from the outfield later in the game.

“She’s really improved out there. She’s getting a much better read on the ball. She understands now where to play more than earlier in the year,” Strong said.

Corbin’s only run came when Sarah Woolums singled home Hannah Hart, who led off the game with a single. Megan Baldwin retired the side in order four of the next five innings. The only Corbin runner during that stretch was Hart on a single just over the glove of shortstop Sidney Herrell.

North Laurel’s only scoring came in the third inning and started with Vires reaching on a push bunt that led to a throwing error.

“She had a big game tonight. She had a push bunt that really got us going,” Strong said.

Kailin Yantz delivered a two-out double to tie the game. The Lady Jaguars went ahead when Kristin Fields tripled to right field.

North Laurel managed just one more hit after the third inning, a bloop single by Farris Strong. They did leave the bases loaded on three errors in the fifth inning, but could not push a run across.

“We’ve hit the ball too well and scored too many runs to stay cold too long,” Strong said.

The Lady Redhounds tried to rally behind a one-out single from Callie Schoolcraft in the seventh inning. The North Laurel defense again stepped up with Katie Bernardo’s grounder to Baldwin turning into a double play to end the game.

A night earlier at Rockcastle County, Baldwin allowed just one hit and also scored the Lady Jaguars only run. Baldwin singled in the fourth inning with McKenzie Mills coming in to pinch run. Vanessa Smith followed with a single that got past the right fielder and allowed Mills to score.

“I hate to use the word struggle. We’re just a little bit away, but we’ll be fine,” Strong said.

The Lady Jaguars did have seven hits against Rockcastle County, including two each by Smith and Farris Strong.

North Laurel will host McCreary Central Tuesday.

mhoward@sentinel-echo.com