BROWNSTOWN — Home runs by Kinzee Dean and Olivia Justice helped propel the Brownstown Central softball team to a 12-4 win over Mid-Southern Conference foe Eastern (Pekin) on Thursday night at home.

Dean’s homer came first in the third inning when she sent a 3-run blast over the fence to score Justice and Brailey Teipen.

Justice’s home run was a solo shot in the fourth inning over the center field wall. It was Justice’s second home run this season, and Dean has hit some in travel ball, but it was her first at Brownstown.

“I’m not really a power hitter, so I was little surprised it went over,” Dean said. “It was exciting, especially in a conference game.”

Brownstown had a stellar hitting night with 17 hits. The Braves scored two runs in the first, five in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth and one in the fifth.

“We’ve hit the ball well,” head coach Darren Bryant said. “Tonight, we hit the ball real well up and down the lineup.”

Brooke Meahl had four hits, Dean had three hits, Kelsey Schneider two, Justice two, Kyndle Huddleston two, Teipen two, Sophie Wayt one and Emily Dillman one.

Dean went 3-3 and just needed a triple to bat for the cycle. She had five RBI, and she also stole two bases.

“She’s really hitting the ball,” Bryant said of Dean. “She’s a hard, aggressive swinger. She’s done a better job this year at making contact. I put her at the bottom of the order just to get some speed in front of our speed at the top of the order.”

Accounting for runs for the Braves were Dean (3), Schneider (2), Meahl (2), Justice (2), Teipen (2) and Wayt (1).

In addition to Dean’s five RBI, Kyndle Huddleston, Rylee May, Schneider, Meahl and Justice all had one RBI. Schneider and Meahl scored the other two runs off wild pitches from Pekin.

Rylin Huddleston started in the circle for BC. She pitched 4.0 innings, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out nine batters.

The four runs Huddleston gave up could’ve been worse. In two different innings, she was faced with the bases loaded and got out of it unscathed.

“She’ll lose focus every now and again, but when she’s dialed in, her stuff really moves,” Bryant said. “She has a good curveball, a good changeup and screwball. She’s kind of battling a knee injury right now, and I think it’s affecting her driving off a little bit. She’s pitched well all year so far.”

May came in relief for the Braves, pitched the final three innings, and she struck out three batters while allowing no runs and three hits.

The Braves are now 3-3 overall this season and will next play on Monday at West Washington. Brownstown has played a tough schedule so far and will continue to play tough teams, but Bryant has liked the way his team has competed so far.

“We’ve got Whiteland, Hamilton Southeastern and Floyd Central yet, and we’ve already played Jennings County, Columbus East and Bedford,” Bryant said. “Our schedule is tough. Even if you take some losses but you play them tough, that’ll pay off in the long run as long as the girls don’t lose confidence over it, and I don’t think they will. They’re a pretty good group of girls and will keep their heads up.”