For a small-school team like Fultondale to take on the state’s top softball team in all classes was, shall we say, adventurous scheduling.

But the Wildcats, ranked tenth in the state Class 2A polls, didn’t go wobbly despite an 8-1 loss at the hands of Mortimer Jordan Thursday afternoon.

The Devils’ pitcher Blair Anderson (14-1) had a blazing day, striking out 14 Wildcats with no walks and four hits. Three of those hits came in the sixth inning, cutting short her bid for a shutout when Fultondale (12-5) put together a double by Cadi Oliver, a single by Haley Hill and another hit by Britani Howell that brought Oliver home.

Jordan started fast with a four-run rally right at the outset, which included a run-scoring double by Morgan Estell and sacrifice flies by Danae Hays and Heather Parker.

But then Fultondale pitcher Camden Marrs settled into a bit of a groove, scattering hits like a triple to Estell in the third but allowing no runs.

The Devils scored again in the fifth when Danae Hays came in on a passed ball that also allowed Estell to move to third; she then scored on Shelby McGraw’s sacrifice fly.

Hays’ ground-out in the sixth scored Haylie McCleney from third. Parker’s subsequent double sent home Anderson to end the scoring.

Marrs (6-1) allowed seven earned runs and 13 hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Robert Carter