CLAYTON — Northmont’s fastpitch varsity softball team Tuesday suffered its first conference loss of the season 5-2 at home against Centerville.

With the loss Northmont fell to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Centerville improved to 3-1 and 1-1.

The Lady Elks got timely hitting and took advantage of a Northmont fielding error to secure the win.

Most Greater Western Ohio Conference schools have played at least eight games thus far. Centerville has only played four. During those four games the Lady Elks have three players listed among the top five hitters in the conference.

Hayley Arnold is hitting .692 while Ashley Arnold and Brooke Strobel are hitting .615.

Northmont has played 10 games. Zoey Hodge leads the team with a .552 batting average with 16 hits in 29 at bats with three home runs, four doubles and 14 RBIs.

As a pitcher Hodge is 4-2 overall this season with 39 strikeouts in 38 and two-thirds innings with a 1.629 earned run average. Hodge took the loss against Centerville.

The Lady Elks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Strobel hit a one out double to right center. The next batter, Riley Bakan, hit a bunt and a high throw to first saw the ball sail into foul territory enabling Strobel to score.

The Lady Bolts tied the game in the bottom of the second. Catcher Sam McGilton singled to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Morgan Pendleton. Jadyn Johnson belted a double to left to score McGilton.

Cardie McCormick followed with a single to center with Johnson advancing to third, but the inning ended when Ashley Arnold struck out the last two batters. Arnold allowed seven hits in seven innings of work with one earned run and six strikeouts.

Centerville scored three more in the top of the third inning. Ardyn Hopf reached on an infield error and stole second. Chayse Adkins reached first on a bunt with Hopf scoring. Hayley Arnold singled to right center, but Adkins got thrown out on a run-down between third and home. Arnold advanced to second on the run-down.

Ashley Arnold followed with a double to left center to score Hayley Arnold. Ally Middleton drew a walk and Strobel singled to load the bases. Baken drew a walk to bring Ashley Arnold home as the Lady Elks took a 4-1 lead.

The Lady Elks added another run in the top of the sixth. Hopf doubled to left, Adkins reached on an infield single and Ashley Arnold singled to center to score Hopf.

Northmont got one run back in the bottom of the sixth. Hodge hit a lead-off double with Shelby Clagg coming in to pinch-run. Pendleton got an infield single with Clagg advancing to third. McCormick also reached on an infield single to score Clagg.

“This game is about timely hitting. They got some hits and we made some errors and gave up a couple walks,” said Northmont coach Kris Mangen. “Centerville is a good ballclub. We knew going in they were a good hitting team, so our defense had to step-up. I thought Hodge threw well. We just didn’t come up with some of the plays that we routinely should have made.”

Hodge surrendered 11 hits in seven innings with four earned runs, two walks and eight strikeouts.

Reach Ron Nunnari at [email protected].