For four innings Tuesday night against Holliday, the Chico High School softball team played like its coach expects -great on offense and consistent on defense.

Then along came the fifth inning where the Eagles rocked the Lady Dragons for five runs. They got out of the inning just in time to preserve a two-run lead and held on the rest of the way for a 10-7 road win.

Chico took a 9-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning before the defense fell apart. The locals committed four of their five errors in the inning and that lead to five runs - four of which were unearned.

The defense settled down long enough to get out of the inning and leave the potential tying run on base. CHS did not allow a run in the final two innings to get out of town with a victory.

"We started off real strong and scored two or more runs in each of the first three innings," said CHS coach Mike May. "After that we seemed to go into the coast mode and it almost cost us the game. Luckily, we got our composure back in time to finish the game and no further damage was done but we've got to play better than that."

The outcome also allowed Chico to remain tied for second place in the District 9-2A playoff race as the second half of play continues. The group is now 6-3 in league play and 13-9 for the season.

The Lady Dragons played like a playoff-bound team in the first three innings. They racked up five runs in their first at-bat to take a lead that was never lost.

Holliday scored one earned run in the bottom of the first and third innings but it did nothing to cool off CHS.

Chico answered with two runs in the second inning and two in the third to take a 9-2 lead.

Kela Allen and Stephanie Stephens had a lot to do with the quick start as they went 3-for-4 at the plate. Stephens smacked a triple while Allen scored all three times she got on base.

Rachel McKinley, Jessica Coffman and Shelby Barnes pounded out doubles and had two hits each. Coffman and Barnes finished with three RBI each as well.

Coffman picked up her 13th win of the season in the circle where she allowed three earned runs on seven hits and had four strikeouts.