Davis' pitching, four-run first lead Oceanside in win

Oceanside got off to a quick start Thursday at Mepham, scoring four first-inning runs in its 8-3 win in a Nassau Conference AA-I softball game.

Nicole Milano opened the scoring with an RBI single, Megan McNamara hit a two-run double and Jeannie Callanan added another RBI single in the first for Oceanside (9-8, 5-7).

"We were trying to focus on getting baserunners on early, so that was good for us today," Oceanside coach Joe Supple said.

Milano (2-for-4) scored two runs, McNamara scored one and Ashley Davis went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs.

"These girls have carried our offense, and when they go, we go," Supple said. "They got us some big hits and we were up early."

Davis threw a four-hitter, allowing two earned runs with four strikeouts and two walks against Mepham (6-8, 4-8). "I felt confident. I was hitting the outside corner, mixing in my change-up," Davis said. "I kept them off-balance."

Oceanside is fighting for a top-four seed and a first-round bye in the Conference AA-I playoffs, and Supple said this win was important in striving for that goal, given that the team currently is tied for fifth place in the conference.

"This is a big win," he said. "Conference AA-I is extremely competitive and we're fighting for playoff seeding and have got some tough games [ahead]."