It's not the same as being undefeated, but it's not far from it either.

The Lyle/Pacelli softball team is one game away from where it was record-wise at this point last season, standing at 15-1 heading into Saturday's Hayfield Tournament. L/P eventually fell for the first time in last year's championship game at Hayfield to Blooming Prairie, but Lyle/Pacelli has still set its sights high for the tournament.

"I'm really proud of the way the girls have played all season long," said L/P coach Tom Clements. "They've really hung in there, and we can finish up with a strong tournament up at Hayfield."

Lyle/Pacelli faces Triton in Saturday's first round at 10 a.m. at Hayfield High School. The main site for the tournament games will be at Hayfield's city park. Hayfield meets LeRoy-Ostrander/Grand Meadow at 8:30 a.m. at the city field, while Blooming Prairie -- the defending tournament champion -- faces Southland simultaneously at the high school. Kingsland and Zumbrota-Mazeppa meet in the other first-round game.

Lyle/Pacelli moved itself to 15-1 with a pair of no-hitters from pitcher Amy Bickler, combined with an inning of work from Susie Rayman to end the second game. Bickler struck out 10 of the 20 batters she faced in the opening 4-1 L/P victory, while Bickler and Rayman combined for six strikeouts in the second game, a 10-0, five-inning Southeast Conference victory.

L/P scored three runs in the top of the first inning and never trailed the rest of the way. Louise Mudra started with a single, stole second, and scored on Kate Boisjolie's slap-single. Bickler walked, and Rayman drove in a run with a single one out later. Rebecca Mino's sacrifice fly scored Bickler as L/P's third run of the inning.

Brianna Enfield drove in Mudra with L/P's fourth and final run on a fielder's choice in the fifth.

Mudra, Bickler and Rayman each had two hits in the opener.

Houston's run was not earned to Bickler, who walked one and struck out 10.

Game Two

Bickler went 3-4 with two doubles and three RBIs as Lyle/Pacelli strolled to the 10-0 win in the second game.

Mudra, Rayman, Mino and Enfield each had two hits, and Boisjolie added another. L/P had 13 hits in the second game, scoring runs in four of five innings.

Rayman's flawless inning of relief included two strikeouts and no hits for Houston. Bickler struck out four and walked none in her four innings.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.

Linescores:

L/P300010--481

Houston000010--103

Houston00000--002

L/P52102--10131