SIOUX FALLS — The Sioux Valley softball team dropped to 9-3 on the season after falling to Beresford 14-9 at the Sanford Diamonds in Sioux Falls on Saturday.

The Cossacks fell behind 14-2 in the first four innings and were unable to come all the way back.

Sioux Valley took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Riley Stirling hit a two-out single and then came around to score on a double from Abby Axtell. The Watchdogs answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. The first run came on an RBI double and they took the lead on an RBI single. Another RBI single and a bases-loaded walk put Beresford up 4-1 heading into the second.

The Watchdogs extended their lead to 7-1 in the second. The first run of the inning came on a double. Another bases-loaded walk gave Beresford a five-run advantage and an RBI single extended the lead to six heading into the third.

Beresford scored three more runs in the third. The Watchdogs scored two runs on a triple and an RBI single pushed the lead to 10-1 heading into the fourth.

Sioux Valley finally got on the board again in the top of the fourth. Leah Forbes hit a one-out single and around to score on a single from Cameron Uecker. However, the Watchdogs scored four more runs in the bottom of the inning. They hit two two-run singles to extend the lead to 14-2 heading into the fifth.

The Cossacks needed to close the lead to under 10 in the fifth inning if they wanted to extend the game and they did just that. Audrey Murano walked to start the inning and scored on a one-out single from Stirling. Kassidy Smith hit a single after Murano walked and she ended up scoring on a single from Axtell. Uecker then came to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a triple to left field that cleared the bases and closed the gap to 14-7.

Sioux Valley added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Murano led off the inning with a single and Smith followed with a walk. Murano stole second and third and Smith stole second. Murano scored on a Summer Guthmiller ground out and Smith scored on a ground out from Stirling to make it 14-9 heading into the seventh. Savana Guthmiller hit a one-out single but Morgan Lemme struck out and Savana Guthmiller was caught trying to steal third to end the game.

Sioux Valley had 15 hits in the game. Uecker was 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Axtell was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Stirling was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Smith was 2-for-3. Forbes was 2-for-4 and Murano was 1-for-1.

Axtell pitched a complete game for the Cossacks. She gave up 14 earned runs on 20 hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

The Cossacks play at Sisseton on Tuesday at 5 p.m.