MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Spoofhound softball team has had its struggles to open the season, but you wouldn’t know it by watching the young players during the game.

“The energy stayed high regardless of the score and that is something that I, as a coach, really appreciate with the team,” Maryville coach Brylee Wright said. “No matter what the situation is, they are going to hustle, they are going to try to out-work the other team.”

The dugout was lively throughout Monday’s 17-0 loss at the Hound Pound to Lawson. Encouragement could be heard all over the diamond when the Spoofhounds are in the field or batting.

“This team is a lot of fun to work with and my best hype men,” Maryville sophomore Kamryn Spire said. “… I think that is really fun knowing that you can yell and scream whatever you want and hype up everyone.

“It is really important, knowing that even if we make a big mistake, we are always hyping each other up, and telling them that it is okay and we got it the next time.”

Maryville (0-5) got off to a great start in the field with sophomore shortstop Jesslyn Grayson ranging into foul territory for a running catch. The second out came on a fly ball to center where sophomore Kate Ackley hopped up to make the catch.

Two walks and an error allowed the Cardinals to plate two runs in the top of the first despite not recording a hit.

Maryville senior first baseman Ella Eckley had the game’s first hit with a double to left center, but the Cardinals got out of the jam with a strikeout and pop out.

Lawson (4-1) opened the game up in the second inning with a 9-run frame, capped by a home run for junior Caelyn Campbell.

The second inning included a highlight for sophomore Kamryn Spire with a 1-out single for her first hit in her varsity Spoofhound career.

“It felt really good — knowing that last season, I didn’t hit very well,” Spire said. “I just feel like this season, I can come back and start my game again.”

The Cardinals added two more runs in the third inning. Maryville collected another hit in the third with senior Phoebe Hornickel singling with two outs, but were unable to score.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to hit more this year,” Hornickel said. “It is something that I struggle with, but something that I’m trying to work on a lot more. … It is starting to pay off.”

Lawson finished the scoring in the fourth inning with four runs for the 17-0 run-rule finish.

Hornickel pitched the first 3 1/3 innings.

“She has done really well with not getting down on herself, staying in the battle and keeping to work hard,” Wright said.

The Spoofhounds had a promising sign to end the game with sophomore Avah Eckley recording the final two outs. The younger of the Eckley sisters has been limited to begin the season with a hand injury.

After hosting Cameron on Tuesday, the Spoofhounds finish the week in St. Joseph at Lafayette on Thursday and at the Benton Tournament on Saturday.

“I think that it comes down to staying locked in and hyping each other up is what keeps us going,” Hornickel said.