Westfall drops Lady Lions in nine innings
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
WESTFALL - The Fairfield Lady Lions dropped their first game of the season Saturday afternoon at Westfall High School to the Westfall Lady Mustangs in a closely contested game taking nine innings to complete. In the end, the Lady Mustangs were too much for the Lady Lions to handle, falling 5-4 in nine innings.
Fairfield took an early lead but gave Westfall two costly unearned runs in the third inning for a Lady Mustang 2-1 advantage.
Along the way, the Lady Lions left seven runners on base, failing to get a timely hit in the right situation.
But when needed late in the game, the young Lady Lions rallied with a run in the top of the sixth inning and another in the top of the seventh to tie the score, eventually sending the non-league game into extra innings.
FHS took the early aforementioned early lead with a run in the top of the third inning.
With one out, Kylie Bates singled up the middle and stole second base. Then with two outs, Danielle Butler doubled over the center fielder’s head to knock in Bates.
The Lady Mustangs took a one-run lead with two unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning.
FHS bounced back to tie the score at two with a run in the top of the fourth inning.
Whitney Hanenkrat reached first on a dropped third strike by Westfall, advancing to second base on a wild pitch. Lauren Larrick followed with a single up the middle to move Hanenkrat to third base. Kortney Paris entered as a courtesy runner for Larrick, and one out later, Sirenity Smith grounded out to the shortstop to knock in Hanenkrat.
The Lady Mustangs would take a 3-2 lead in bottom of the fourth inning on a double and a sacrifice bunt.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Westfall added to their lead at 4-2 with a solo home run.
Fairfield continued to fight back, and in the top of the sixth inning, Butler and Abby Thackston would chase starting pitcher Redman from the mound with back to back doubles. Butler scored to make the score 4-3, bringing FHS within one run of tying the ball game. FHS left two runners stranded to end the inning.
The Lady Lions tied the score at four in the top of seventh inning.
With two outs and the bases empty, Heather Huff drew a walk, advancing to second base on a wild pitch. Huff then stole third base and scored on an RBI single to right field by Butler. The single was Butler's third hit of the game.
FHS threatened to score in the eighth and ninth innings but failed to get the timely hit. Westfall eventually scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a double off the bat of Amanda Self.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions included: Butler (3-for-4, two doubles, SAC bunt, one run, two RBIs), Thackston (2-for-5, double, one RBI), Larrick (2-for-4), Tiffany Woods (1-for-4), Bates (1-for-4, one run), and Jade Shelton (1-for-4).
Larrick (2-1) suffered the loss for the Lady Lions, while Cobb (1-0) earned the victory for Westfall.
Larrick went all nine innings, allowing eight hits, five runs (three earned) and two walks. She finished with eight strikeouts.
Cobb pitched four innings in the winning effort. She allowed five hits, one run (one earned) with one walk and three strikeouts.
The Lady Lions will host Southern Hills League opponent Ripley on Tuesday, April 6 with a first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.
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