If the Lakeland softball team’s hitting was as good as its fielding, the Lady Cavaliers might win the Southeastern district.

Behind a seven-strikeout performance by Lindsay Kelly, visiting Lakeland almost completely shut down one of the district’s strongest offenses on Friday, holding Nansemond River to just two hits as both teams started off the second half of the season.

Unfortunately, one of those hits was a three-run triple by Sarah Brooks that drove in all the deciding runs in the Lady Warriors’ 4-1 victory. Though the Lady Cavaliers smacked out six hits of their own, they never had more than two in any particular inning.

Lakeland went up in the first, as Claudia Graham singled, advanced when Ashley McCord reached on an error, and scored on a single by Erica Rimasse. But Heather Horton and Kelsei Saunders walked for River and Ashley Aston singled to load the bases.

Cherae Rice walked to force home Horton, and Brooks whacked her three-bagger to deep right-centerfield to score Saunders, Aston and Rice. Though Kelly held the Lady Warriors hitless for the remainder, Lakeland only got one more runner to third. Linley Theroux recorded seven strikeouts for River.

River, which went unbeaten in the second half of last season, will host Deep Creek on Tuesday, while Lakeland hosts Oscar Smith.

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com