MEADVILLE — Meadville scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break open a one-run game, en route to an 8-1 Region 5 win on Thursday over Warren.

“Four plays” were the difference, said Warren coach Carissa Stuart, whose Dragons are 1-7 overall and 1-6 in the region. Meadville is 6-1 in Region 5.

Specifically, four Warren errors over the fifth and sixth innings turned a 1-0 Meadville lead into an 8-1 win. Alana Stuart struck out seven in the hard-luck loss. She also homered for Warren’s lone run.

“We put the ball in play 14 times tonight,” said Coach Stuart. “It was one of those games where the hits just couldn’t find the holes. Every hit was right to them. As frustrating as that is, it’s a huge improvement from the last time we played them. If we make the defensive plays we need to, we’re in the game.

“We can make a difference the second time through region play… we just need to put it all together,” added Coach Stuart.

In a 4-3 three-inning junior varsity loss, Malysia Sorensen had her first varsity home run.