Lady Mustangs sweep Georgetown in DH to start season

DODSONVILLE — The Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs have begun their 2025 season with a 2-0 start, and they’ve done so in convincing fashion. Saturday saw LCHS win a season-opening doubleheader against the Georgetown Lady G-Men by scores of 17-2 and 19-8.

In a windy and cold day to start the season, the first game of the doubleheader was a 12-hit, 13-RBI performance by the Lady Mustangs, which also saw them draw five walks and total six extra-base hits consisting of two doubles, two triples and two home runs in the win. LCHS also had two hits by pitch and four steals in the game-one win.

LCHS wasted little time putting runs on the board with a six-run bottom of the first inning, followed by three runs in the second and seven runs in the third. Lynchburg-Clay capped off their scoring with one run in the fourth inning, eventually winning the game at 17-2 via the five-inning run-rule as GHS scored one run in the second and another run in the fourth inning.

The tempo-setting first inning started with a Jazmine Brown being hit by a pitch on the third pitch of the inning. Next was a single to left field by Kami Collins, moving Brown to second base. Next, the bases were loaded when Caitlyn Collins singled on a bunt to the pitcher. All runners rounded the bases as Noel Barnhill hit a grand slam over the left field fence for a 4-0 LCHS lead on the third pitch of the at-bat off a 1-1 count.

With the Lady Mustangs leading by four runs, they had their first out of the inning, but continued the bottom of the first with an Aubrey Roberts walk on four pitches, and Reese Ruble moved Roberts to third base with a double hit to centerfield. Audrey Barry collected an RBI off a groundout, scoring Roberts for a 5-0 lead.

Next, the lead went to six runs as Ruble scored on a wild pitch during Sadie Kuipers’ at-bat, during which she drew a walk.

LCHS in the bottom of the second gained a 7-1 lead when Caitlyn Collins smashed a home run over the centerfield fence. Later, the lead went to 8-1 as Roberts tripled to centerfield, scoring Baylee McClain who reached the bases on a two-out single to centerfield.

Lynchburg-Clay’s lead jumped to 9-1 as Roberts scored off a single off the bat of Ruble’s sixth pitch of the at-bat.

In the bottom of the third, Caitlyn Collins tripled with the bases loaded, sending the ball to centerfield and scoring Kuipers, Brown and Kami Collins, who first reached the bases off a walk (Kuipers), a hit by pitch (Brown) and a single (Kami Collins) to start the inning.

Holding a 12-1 lead with no outs, Barnhill forced a walk on a full count, then with Lily Ferguson in as a pinch runner for Barnhill, McClain doubled to centerfield, scoring Collins and moving Ferguson to third base. Ferguson scored on a passed ball, and Roberts eventually drew a walk.

Roberts followed up by stealing second base, and McClain scored on a passed ball. As McClain scored, Roberts advanced to third base. Roberts scored on the next at-bat as Barry grounded out for an RBI, with Roberts crossing home plate for a 16-1 LCHS lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Brown scored a run off a fly ball out hit to right field by Caitlyn Collins for an RBI and a 17-2 lead. Earlier in the top of the fourth, Georgetown scored their second run of the game off an inside-the-park home run by Chloe Inlow with two outs, which was the lone hit of the game by the Lady G-Men.

Barnhill was the winning pitcher with five innings pitched, allowing two runs (one earned) off one hit and no walks. Barnhill struck out nine batters off 54 pitches (45 for strikes).

Caitlyn Collins finished the game with the lead in hits, going 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI with the aforementioned triple and home run.

Kami Collins went 2-for-4 with two runs, while Barnhill finished 1-for-3 with one run (home run), four RBI and one walk.

Brown finished 1-for-3 with three runs. McClain was 2-for-3 with two runs, a double and one RBI. Roberts ended the game at 1-for-1 with three runs, one RBI and two walks.

Ruble was 2-for-3 with one run, and one RBI, as she also collected a double with her hit. Barry finished with two RBI, and Kuipers scored one run and had two walks.

Steals were credited to Brown (two), Roberts and Kuipers, while Brown was also hit by a pitch on two occasions.

In game two, LCHS won 19-8 in five innings, totaling 16 hits and no errors. Georgetown (the home team in the game on the scoreboard) finished with 15 hits and one error.

Lynchburg-Clay scored seven runs in the top of the second, followed by an eight-run third inning, a one-run fourth, and capped off their scoring with three runs in the top of the fifth. Georgetown scored a run in the bottom of the first, followed by a four-run second inning and three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

In all, LCHS totaled 16 hits and Georgetown had 15 hits with one error, while LCHS had zero errors.

Ferguson led LCHS at 3-for-4 with three runs and eight RBI. Brown finished 2-for-3 with three runs and a walk, while teammate Kami Collins was 1-for-3 with two runs, one RBI and two walks.

Caitlyn Collins went 2-for-3 with two runs, four RBI and a walk. Barnhill was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Roberts finished game two at 1-for-3 with one RBI and a walk.

Ruble ended the second game at 2-for-3 with two runs, and Barry was 2-for-3 with three runs, one RBI and one walk. Avery Blankenship finished 1-for-4 with one run and one RBI.

Extra-base hits for LCHS included Barry with two doubles, and with one double each were Caitlyn Collins and Ferguson. Triples were hit by Blankenship and Kami Collins, and home runs were hit by Caitlyn Collins, Barnhill and Ferguson, who had two.

Brown and Ruble were each hit by a pitch, and steals were collected by Kami Collins, Barry and Barnhill.

Roberts was the winning pitcher, finishing with five innings pitched and three strikeouts.

GAME 1
BOX SCORE
GHS    010 10x x — 2 1 1
LCHS    637 1xx x — 17 12 2

GAME 2
BOX SCORE
LCHS        078 13x x — 19 16 0
GHS        140 30x x — 8 15 1

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