The Chelsea softball team got a much need win over state-ranked Saline in a huge SEC crossover matchup Wednesday.

The win lifted the Bulldogs into first place in the SEC White with a one game lead over Tecumseh and improved the Bulldogs hopes of another league title.

The loss dropped Saline to 12-2 in the SEC Red and their lead shrunk to one game over Dexter.

Saline took a 1-0 lead in the first when Sydney Hastings scored on a Reese Rupert single.

The score would stay that way until the fourth when Avery Lay singled with one out for Chelsea. She came around on a Tori Parisho single and Charlotte Diesing doubled to plate a run to make it 2-1 Bulldogs.

Saline threatened in the sixth with two out singles by Rupert and Clara Cherry, but Parisho got a strikeout to end the threat.

Chelsea picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Lily McCalla doubled in Charlotte Diesing to make it 3-1.

Saline had one more chance in the seventh with an Ashley Malinczak single and a two-out error, but Parisho got a fly out to left to end the game 3-1.

Parisho had a strong game in the circle with 10 strikeouts for the in for Chelsea.

McCalla had two hits and an RBI and Kaydee Absher two hits. Parisho and Diesing each had a hit and RBI and Lay a hit and run scored.

Rupert led Saline with two hits and an RBI, while Hastings had a hit and run scored.

The bats came to life in the second game with the teams combining for 37 hits in Saline’s 22-9 win.

Hastings had a monster game with five hits, including a home run and six RBI.

Ava Stripp had three hits with a home run and two RBI, while Malinczak had three hits and four RBI. Karli Dorr had two hits and four runs scored, Delaney Lee three hits and two RBI, Izzy Deveau a hit and two RBI, and Lizzie Thibeault two hits and three runs scored.

Jenna Ouellette led Chelsea with three hits and three runs scored.

Ella Root had two hits with a home run and three RBI, while Lay and Dani Wahl had two hits and an RBI each. Samantha Dark, Absher, and Piper Diesing each had a hit and RBI.

Chelsea improved to 12-8-1 overall on the season and 7-1 in the SEC White. They have a doubleheader scheduled at Pinckney Monday and still have to finish a suspended game with Tecumseh that is tied at 8-8 in a game that still could decide the SEC White title.

Saline improved to 22-4-1 on the season.