St. Aloysius will have to battle growing pains this season as a lineup filled with eighth-graders and ninth-graders learn the ropes.

Florence took advantage of the Lady Flashes’ youth by scoring 11 unearned runs to take an 11-1 win in five innings Tuesday night at Bazinsky Park.

The loss drops St. Al to 1-2 on the season while Florence improved to 3-0.

Lady Flashes coach Gene Rogillio said his team will have to use each game as a learning experience.

“We’d get two outs, but then couldn’t get that third out, and that’s how they got so many unearned runs,” Rogillio said. “We know we’ve got to move some people around to find what fits best. It will take some time. Hopefully in the Catholic Tournament this weekend, we can find it.”

St. Aloysius found a bright spot with the pitching of eighth-grader Cameron Curtis.

Curtis entered the game in the fourth inning. Florence led 9-0 after scoring all nine runs off after two outs against starter Grace Franco. Curtis struck out two in a scoreless fourth and then got another in the fifth while getting touched for a pair of unearned runs.

Rogillio was impressed.

“Yeah, she came in and hit her spots,” Rogillio said. “The drop ball worked and we played some defense behind her. As for Gracie (Franco), it just wasn’t her night.”

Franco pitched a scoreless first, but a single, walk and a two-out error unraveled the Lady Flashes in the second inning. A bad throw from the third led to three runs and a 4-0 lead for Florence.

In the top of the third, Abby Taylor got a one-out triple and then scored on a passed ball. Franco struck out Harleigh Anderson, but then issued three straight walks. Two of the runners scored off wild pitches and the other came in on a triple by Monica Wade for an 8-0 lead. Wade scored on St. Al’s fourth error of the game.

The Lady Flashes got their lone run in the bottom of the third when Julie Mabry reached on her second infield hit of the game and then scored on Mallory McGuffee’s sharply-hit ball to short that bounced into left field for an RBI double.

Taylor had a triple and two runs scored to lead the Lady Eagles. Taylor Baker went all five innings to grab the win and limited St. Al to five hits. Mabry had two hits while Madison Heggins and Curtis had the others.

Brandon 14, WC 4

Brandon scored nine runs in the third inning to take care of the Lady Vikes. Katie Busby went 3-for-4 to lead WC (1-2). Megan McCullough struck out five and took the loss. Kendall Parker, Lauren Boolos, Alexis Patterson and Lexie Burleigh drove in one run apiece.