GEORGETOWN — The longball has been key for the Lake Forest softball team’s offensive attack throughout the season, but that doesn’t mean they can’t win without hitting one deep.

In Monday’s Henlopen Conference showdown at Sussex Central, Lake Forest (14-2) recorded its 10th straight win, dominating the Golden Knights 12-2 in a 5-inning game.

Brooke Glanden, hitting third in the lineup, went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a triple and two runs scored. Junior pitcher Kaitlyn Stahre struck out five and allowed a pair of runs on six hits.

“The last two games we didn’t really play like ourselves,” head coach Ashlie Tatman said. “Today they really wanted to come here, open up and make a statement. And that’s what we did.”

Lake’s lineup contributed from top to bottom, collecting 10 hits against Sussex Central starting pitcher Hayley McCabe.

Lake Forest junior right-hander Kaitlyn Stahre struck out five and allowed a pair of runs on six hits. (Delaware State News/Ben Heck)

After hitting at least one home run in each of the first 13 games, Lake has now gone three consecutive games without a homer. That hasn’t kept the Spartans from winning ball games.

“We knew that when we get further into the season and see better pitching, home runs aren’t going to come every game,” said Glanden, the Spartans’ junior third baseman. “When you see a good pitcher like Hayley you’re still going to have to put the bat on the ball. It doesn’t mean it has to be home runs, but we had to do what we had to do.”

Stahre had another solid performance from the pitcher’s circle.

“She did well and really honed in,” coach Tatman said. “We can rely on either of our pitchers to do that. wasn’t feeling well today so we let Kaitlyn have this game and she did well.”

“I love catching her, she’s such a good pitcher,” senior catcher Faith Garey said of Stahre’s performance. “She hit her spots almost every single pitch, and that’s exactly what we need, especially for states.”

Kerrigan Simpson bats for Lake Forest.

With two games remaining on the regular season schedule, Tatman and her squad hope to use the final pair of games to tune up for the state tournament.

“We’re going to use these last two games as momentum and we’re going to bring our ‘A’ game every game because everybody is bringing their best against us, as they should,” Tatman said.

Lake will host Cape Henlopen today and Seaford Friday. Sussex Central (12-4) will host Seaford today and Nandua (Va.) Wednesday.