The Ballard High School softball team didn't play like itself in a 7-3 loss to Roosevelt April 5 to open KingCo play.

"We picked the worst time to play our worst game," coach Kyle Gray said. "We're better than that. It was just a bad day for us."

The Beavers had eight hits to Roosevelt's seven, but Roosevelt's hits were more timely, Gray said. He said errors and strikeouts became contagious for the Ballard players at the wrong moments in the game.

Roosevelt led 5-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Ballard was able to cut that lead to 5-3, but Roosevelt pulled away in the seventh for the win.

Freshman Brittney Blokker went two-for-four with a double, and junior Karissa Marshall went one-for three with two RBIs.

Freshman pitcher Andrea Jewett threw 11 strikeouts and gave up two walks in seven innings.

Ballard opened the season with four straight wins in nonconference play. The team is now 0-1 in KingCo and 4-1 overall.

The Beavers take on Garfield at 4 p.m. on April 6 at Garfield High School.