The Houston softball team cruised to a home victory Monday despite continuing to play shorthanded.

Kameron Hall drove home a pair of runs and Taylor Chipps and Madison Lawson had two hits apiece as the Lady Tigers downed Newburg 10-0 in five innings on Carter Field.

HHS (7-7) played its fourth consecutive game without No. 2 hitter and starting shortstop Kaitlyn Root, who suffered a concussion on Sept. 9. Root must be symptom free for five days before returning, according to rules set by the Missouri High School Activities Association.

The Lady Tigers are 2-2 without Root, but head coach Brent Hall said the team is struggling.

“There are a lot of confidence issues at the field and the plate. It might be a combination of not doing well at the plate makes you not do well in the field, or vice versa,” Hall said.

{{tncms-inline alignment=”right” content=”<p><strong>Monday’s game</strong></p> <p>Newburg 000 00 –– 0 5 2</p> <p>Houston 150 4x –– 10 6 3</p> <p>HHS hits: Chipps 2, Lawson 2, Hall, Ozier.</p> <p>Winning pitcher: Roberts (7-7).</p> <p><strong>Friday’s game</strong></p> <p>Houston 001 203 0 –– 6 9 1</p> <p>Mansfield 114 000 1 –– 7 7 2</p> <p>HHS hits: Hall 2, Ozier 2, Crawford, Chipps, Lawson, Curtis, Stell.</p> <p>Losing pitcher: Roberts (6-7).</p>” id=”d052db50-6803-4e65-b127-73eaacd0e06d” style-type=”bio” title=”BOX SCORES” type=”relcontent” width=”half”}}

“To their defense, we’re scrambling around with Kaitlyn being hurt. But you can’t make excuses. Hopefully one good at-bat or play will change the confidence issues.”

Houston junior Emily Roberts worked around three errors in the complete-game shutout. She allowed five hits and struck out five.

“We feed off how she does,” Hall said.

HHS broke the game open with a five-run second inning. Chipps and Lawson had back-to-back singles in front of Kameron Hall’s two-run hit.

“We won, but we could have played better,” Brent Hall said. “We had a couple errors and missed some signs. Those are things you can’t do against a good team.”

Monday’s game

Newburg 000 00 –– 0 5 2

Houston 150 4x –– 10 6 3

HHS hits: Chipps 2, Lawson 2, Hall, Ozier.

Winning pitcher: Roberts (7-7).

Friday’s game

Houston 001 203 0 –– 6 9 1

Mansfield 114 000 1 –– 7 7 2

HHS hits: Hall 2, Ozier 2, Crawford, Chipps, Lawson, Curtis, Stell.

Losing pitcher: Roberts (6-7).

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