The Statesboro softball team (1-2, 3-10) suffered its worst loss of the 2007 season Tuesday, falling 21-0 to Evans at Mill Creek.

    The visiting Knights, despite arriving late after their team bus broke down, managed to jump out to an early 9-0 lead after three innings.

    Evans scored two in the first then exploded for five in the second. Nicki Kinner reached second on two errors on the same play, Emily Olsen singled to left to bring home Kinner and Jenny Shepard singled to center after an infield hit by Taylor Jones to make the score 4-0.

    With Shepard on first and Jones on third, Heather Raburn drove a 2-1 pitch deep down the left field line for a three-run homer to make the score 7-0.

    Meghan Cassedy then relieved starter Brittany Raines to start the third inning. Cassedy allowed two runs in the frame, but then settled down to hold the Lady Knights scoreless until the sixth.

    Meanwhile, pitcher Laura Brown was unhittable through 3 2/3 innings. Raines broke up the no-hitter with a screamer down the first-base line for a single. Brown would allow just two hits and four base runners through six, striking out 13.

    Evans (11-8, 1-2) put the game away in the sixth, batting around twice and sending 18 hitters to the plate. The Knights cranked out six hits, walked four times and advanced on four of Statesboro’s nine errors.

    Designated hitter Valerie Lawrence had two singles and two RBIs in the inning, three different Knights scored twice and Raines would have to relieve her own reliever to put out the 12-run outburst.

    Raburn went 1-for-4 but scored four times and had three RBIs. Jones, a slap hitter, went 3-for-6 with three runs scored.

    The Blue Devils return to action Thursday, traveling to Lakeside for a 5 p.m. first pitch.

    Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.