The Palisade High School baseball team continued its early season winning ways with a decisive win Thursday morning on the road in Pueblo. The Bulldogs defeated Lamar 18-2 at Runyon Field Sports Complex.

The Bulldogs scored four runs before the Thunder had taken their first turn at the plate. Palisade later added one run in the second, four in the fourth, and two in the fifth before erupting for an seven-run sixth inning to invoke the mercy rule and close the contest out.

Despite their dramatic scoring output, the Bulldogs managed only nine hits. Senior center fielder Dylon Larson and junior second baseman Wyatt Fleming each collected a pair of hits in the winning effort. Larson finished the day 2 for 4 with a walk, four runs scored and one RBI and Fleming finished 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, four RBI and two runs scored.

The Bulldogs improved to 6-1 on the season with the victory. Palisade will have an off day today before returning to action at home on Saturday against Holy Family; first pitch is slated for 11 a.m.

Fruita Monument is still looking for its first win at the Coach Bob Invitational in Queen Creek, Arizona, after losing a pair of games Thursday.

In the first game against Nixa, Missouri, the Wildcats jumped to a 7-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Eagles responded with three runs in the first, five in the second, seven in the third and one in the fourth to pull away for the win.

Gavin Cardoza paced the offense for Fruita with two RBI and was one of seven players to record one hit in the loss.

In the second game of the day, the Wildcats lost 5-0 to Chandler, Arizona, the Wildcats compiled only four hits — one each by Sam Hawkins, Josh Weaver, Asa Alfstad and Blake Elsberry.

In Wednesday night’s opening game, Fruita lost 5-0 to Canyon View, Arizona, with Weaver pacing the offense with two hits.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Colorado Mesa senior Payton Panzeri has been named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference player of the week, per a release from the conference.

Panzeri, a native of Meridian, Idaho, picked up her first collegiate tournament win this past week at the Southwestern Minnesota State challenge in Litchfield Park, Arizona. The senior shot a 1-over-par 71, a career best, on day one of the tournament before following it up with a 4-over 75; her two-day score of 145 was enough to win the tournament by four shots.

Thanks in part to Panzeri’s leadership, the Mavericks also claimed their first team win of the season at the tournament. CMU outshot second-place Augustana by 11 strokes across the two-day tournament.