Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Alexis Pascuzzi makes a leaping catch during Tuesday’s Region 3 softball game against Mercyhurst Prep.

RUSSELL — The Eisenhower girls welcomed Mercyhurst Prep on Tuesday and dropped their Region 3 softball game 17-5.

The Knights trailed from the start as the visitors went up on Rylee Beebe’s two-run home run over the left-field fence. Mercyhurst Prep added four runs in the top of the second inning and tallied six more in the third to take a 13-0 lead before the hosts would get on the scoreboard.

Eisenhower scored five runs courtesy of four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Alexis Pascuzzi drove in a run on a fielder’s choice; Samantha Childs singled in another run; and Caitlyn Pikna drove in two runs on a single. A Lakers’ error accounted for the final run in the inning to make the score 13-5.

Mercyhurst Prep (8-2, 4-1) pulled away and it didn’t allow Eisenhower to score again.

Abbie Darr was the losing pitcher, allowing seven hits, striking out four and walking eight in three innings. Offensively, Hailey Gray led Eisenhower (1-6, 0-3) with two hits.