The Dunwoody Wildcats fell 10-2 to the Walton Raiders in their home and season opener at Dunwoody on Tuesday afternoon.

Walton was playing its fourth game of the season after playing in a tournament last weekend picking up wins against Campbell (8-0) and McEachern (16-3) and a tough loss to Etowah (5-6). Having three games under their belts showed up early as they built a 4-0 lead over the first three innings.

Walton’s Blakely Caldwell got the Raiders on the board first with a solo homer to left field with one out in the first inning to aid her own cause on the mound.

Caldwell set the Wildcats (0-1) down in order in each of the first three innings as her teammates added to the lead. A Dunwoody error in the top of the second led to a two-out, two-run double by Audrey Gurule to extend the lead to 3-0.

Julia Rutledge made it 4-0 in the top of the third inning with another two-out hit as she singled up the middle to score Shea Chatham.

The score remained 4-0 over the next two innings as Dunwoody pitcher Lindsay Parkes was able to limit the Raiders by allowing just two baserunners in the two frames. Freshman shortstop Kristina Conn aided the cause with a diving catch going to her right in the fourth to end the inning.

Dunwoody had two runners on and threatening to close the gap in the bottom of the fifth but Caldwell was aided by a base runner getting thrown out at third and then getting a strikeout to end the threat.

Walton put up five runs in the top of the sixth as the first six batters reached base to start the big rally. Alex Volkerding drove in the first run with a doubled to center field while Caldwell added an infield single to drive in a run and Chatham drew a bases loaded walk to make it 7-0.

Dunwoody relief pitcher made a big play snaring a line drive off the bat of Kensi Ody and throwing to first to complete a double play. Walton still had runners on second and third and Caroline Bell singled into center to make it 9-0 before getting picked off trying to steal.

The Wildcats got things going against Caldwell as Amanda Harris led of the bottom of the sixth with a double deep to right field for the first hit of the game and Conn doubled into the right-center gap to score Harris and put Dunwoody on the board.

Kaz McLaughlin singled to left to drive in Conn and moved to third as the throw home went high and Caldwell was relieved by Tara Kycharski. Josie Worley drew a walk from Kycharski to put runners on the corners with two outs. Tatiana Hammock lined a shot up the middle but Kycharski caught it to prevent any more damage.

Leading 9-2 in the top of the seventh, Walton added an insurance run on a ground out by Volkerding to score Rutledge to make it 10-2.

Rachel Urbach reached on an error with one out in the bottom of the seventh for Dunwoody but a fielder’s choice and a strikeout by Kycharski ended the game.