Abby Gardner struck out seven on her way to throwing a no-hitter against Valdosta on Thursday at the Bearcat Diamonds.

The Lady Cats kept their foot on the petal and didn’t let up as they won 12-0 through four innings.

Bainbridge scored three runs in the first inning, four in the second and five in the third. Runners were put in scoring position and big bats from Halle Cannon, Alaina Cox, Makayla Hamilton and Thyra Jackson blasted them home.

“It’s a lot of preparation,” said coach Christopher Bryant. “These girls are just doing a phenomenal job. If we get somebody on, it doesn’t matter if it’s one out, two outs, we are going to score. That’s just from what they believe in their minds.”

Cox led Bainbridge with two hits in two at bats. The Lady Cats didn’t commit a single error in the field. Cannon had the most chances in the field with seven.

Now, Bainbridge is faced with its toughest stretch of the regular season. Six games are left, five of which are region games. Next Tuesday, the Lady Cats head to Harris County, who they beat 3-1 in August. The team isn’t looking past that game.

“One game at a time,” said Bryant. “I preach that. Every game we play we are visualizing ourselves playing for a region championship or a state championship. One at a time. Again, I don’t look far down the road. I look at what’s next. Let’s get through that one and we’ll go from there.”

Thursday’s shutout win marks the ninth shutout the Lady Cats have had this season.

The success goes back toward senior leadership, Bryant emphasized.

“They are leading these younger kids,” said Bryant. “We have great pitching. We have great younger players, but they are following that senior lead. They set a goal at the beginning of the season and they are sticking with it. Win the region, go to Columbus and take care of business.”

First pitch against Harris County is 5 p.m. Afterwards they travel to Thomas County Central on Tuesday, Sept. 25. Bainbridge’s next home game is Wednesday, Sept. 26, against Thomasville, followed by a trip to Veterans that Thursday, Sept. 27. The Lady Cats close out the regular season with a doubleheader against Warner Robins on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Bearcat Diamonds.