Lady Dragons burn Lady 'Cats
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MOWRYSTOWN - Going down in order in the first three innings, all via strike out, wasn't a sign of good things for the Whiteoak Lady Wildcats Tuesday evening. In, fact they were struck out 11 of their first 13 plate appearances by the West Union Dragons, as the Lady 'Cats were defeated in Southern Hills League play 7-3 at Whiteoak High School.
The lone runs scored by the Lady 'Cats came in the bottom of the fifth. Kari Fannin started the inning with a walk and with two outs was scored by a single from Taryn Christy for the RBI. Before the RBI single, Blair Maynard reached on a walk.
Still in the inning with two outs, with Maynard and Christy on the bases, Ashley Nichols singled to left field to bring home both runners.
"The best thing about this game for us was that we didn't give up," Whiteoak head coach Bret Malone said. "We were down four runs at one point and came back to make it 5-3. We had a chance to score more runs, so I am pleased that we didn't give up."
But the star of the game was West Union pitcher Bowles. Bowles finished with 15 strikeouts, nine in the first three innings. She didn't allow a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning, with two outs.
"Bowles hit her spots against us," Malone said. "We are working on hitting with base runners and hitting to the opposite field. Tonight reinforces we need to work on hitting with runners on base, along with hitting the ball to opposite field."
Runs by the Lady Dragons came little by little, scoring at least one run in all but the second inning.
In the top part of the first inning, Grooms, Campbell and Knauff all singled. With two outs, Campbell knocked in Grooms with her base hit. Knauff made the score 2-0 with a base hit single, scoring Campbell.
In the third, Heitz blasted a home run to right-center field. Foster followed with a solo shot in the fourth inning.
In the fifth, Hilton touched home plate with a ground out by Campbell. Hilton reached the bases on an error.
In the sixth inning, Shivener singled to center field, and Foster scored the base runner with another base hit to center field.
The final run came in the seventh with Haitz, who took first via base hit and scored on an errant pickoff throw to third base.
The loss in the circle was charged to Juanita Nichols. Nichols finished with six strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
At the plate, Juanita Nichols was 2-for-3 gaining hits in the fourth and sixth innings. Brittany Tolliver was 1-for-3 with a hit in the seventh inning.
The loss drops the Lady 'Cats to 3-2 overall, 2-1 in the SHL. They will travel to Eastern Brown on Thursday at 5 p.m.
BOX SCORE
WUHS - 201 111 1 - 7
WHS - 000 030 0 - 3
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