In their season opener Tuesday, the Powerhouse needed a six-run inning to come from behind to defeat the Mulchers, 10-9. On Wednesday, the Power players decided to make things a bit easier on themselves, scoring four runs in each of the first two innings on their way to defeating the Teamsters 11-1 at Driver Elementary School.

Tara McClenney reached on an error to open the game, and Kristy Cornett moved her over with a single. Kathleen Hotte then doubled McClenney home, and Angie Dunavant scored Cornett with a single. A fielder’s choice by Renee McNeil allowed the speedy Hotte to charge to the plate, and Dunavant scored on an error for a 4-0 lead.

The House picked things right back up in the second, as McClenney again opened things, this time with a single. Cornett hit a triple to the centerfield fence to score her, and a long sacrifice fly by Hotte cashed in Cornett.

McNeil then hit her first home run since the 2000 season, a blast over the left-centerfield fence that also scored Dunavant, who had singled.

&uot;I struggled all last year,&uot; said McNeil, who missed first base in her excitement and had to run back. &uot;I had a lot of warning track power, but this is my first one in two years.

&uot;I thought I was out at first, because it looked like it had gone straight up in left field. But it just went out.&uot;

Not to be outdone, Dunavant hit her second home run in as many days in the fourth inning, a two-run shot that scored Hotte to extend the lead to 10-0.

&uot;I’m going to try to hit one in every game,&uot; Dunavant said with a smile. &uot;I have to beat my record from last year.&uot; She hammered 20 round-trippers in 2001.

Hotte scored the team’s final run in the sixth inning when she came in on a double by Dunavant. But Angela Woldmoe spoiled the Powerhouse’s shutout bid in the seventh inning when she came in on a sacrifice fly by Christine Parrish.

On the other field, the Mulchers got their first victory of the season by defeating the Painkillers 12-5. Like the Powerhouse, the Mulchers also jumped out to an early lead, as their first seven batters made hits on their way to a 6-0 lead in the first inning. Alex Butler, Crystal Baucant, Mary Kelly, and Wendy Redmon scored in the second to extend the lead to 10-0.

The Painkiller offense finally showed some life in the fourth. Melinda Knill and Lori Wilson singled, and Beth Marley doubled them in.

But Lydia DeVenuto opened the sixth by reaching on an error for the Mulchers, and Butler singled to right field. Baucant singled home DeVenuto and Kelly Butler, knocking the lead back up to eight.

The Painkillers scored three runs in the seventh, but Jodi Bowman made two putouts and Kelly one to end the game.

On the mound, Redmon was having flashbacks of Tuesday’s loss. &uot;Last night showed me that one big inning is all it takes,&uot; she said. &uot;I was really nervous in the seventh, because it seemed like they had scored more runs than they did.&uot;

Competition continues tonight at Driver. The Stingers vs. Cutters and Los Locos vs. Teamsters games will begin at 7 p.m., and the Mulchers vs. Stingers and Cutters vs. Los Locos games will start at 8:30 p.m.