Andalusia’s Paige Caraway struck out 17 batters in seven innings of work Tuesday night, to help lead her team to a 6-1 defeat over Pleasant Home.

Caraway also had a good night behind the plate finishing 2-for-3 with one home run, one double and two RBIs.

Andalusia scored all of its six runs in the second inning on four hits and two walks, including the home run by Caraway, which started the inning on a positive note.

Then, Abbie Young hit a single to reach first base and made it to second when Megan Pugh was walked.

Sam Greene hit an RBI to score Young on a fielder’s choice and Pugh came home on an RBI single from Ellie Pollock to bring Andalusia’s lead to 3-0.

Greene and Pollock later came home on a single from A.C. Riley.

Riley scored her team’s last run of the game to end the second inning.

“We finally strung together some hits in the second inning,” Andalusia coach Marcus Taylor said. “But at the same time, we left some people on base and had some opportunities to tack some runs on, and we didn’t take advantage of that.”

Pleasant Home’s only run came in the sixth inning when Emily Byrd hit a solo home run with the count 0-and-0.

Despite giving up the home run, Taylor said he was pleased with Caraway’s performance Tuesday night.

“She has a good night every time she goes out there,” he said. “It’s not like it’s a once in a while thing. Every time she takes the mound you know you’re going to get a great effort and great pitching performance.”

For the Lady Bulldogs, Riley was 2-for-4 with two singles and one run; Young was 1-for-3 with one single and one run; Pugh was 1-for-3 with one single and one run; Greene was 0-for-3 with one run and one RBI; and Pollock was 1-for-3 with one single, one run and one RBI.

Pleasant Home’s Byrd was 2-for-3 with one home run, one single, one run and one RBI; and Gina Davis was 1-for-3 with one single.

Andalusia and Pleasant Home will kick off play in the annual Kirsten L. Dean softball tournament at Straughn today.

The Lady Bulldogs will play Straughn at 4 p.m. and then Pleasant Home at 5:30.

Taylor said the pool his team is in for the tournament will benefit the team.

“We’re in a tough pool, but I think we’re going to benefit from it because we need to play teams that have good competition,” Taylor said. “Straughn and Pleasant Home are two of the best programs in the county. That’s who we’re going to have to compete against to get better.”