LOW MOOR – A five-run fourth inning was the difference maker last Thursday in the Alleghany Lady Mountaineers 8-5 victory over the Covington Lady Cougars in one of their last two meetings on the softball field.
The Lady Mountaineers struck first with a three-run bottom of the second inning. After Kinsey Middleton (1-for-2) had an RBI double, two fielding errors by the Lady Cougars defense helped lead to two more Lady Mountaineers runs scored.
Despite falling behind, the Lady Cougars got a little help from their opponents as they would tie the game in the top half of the third inning. The Lady Mountaineers ran into their own fielding issues as they committed back-to-back errors to open the inning which led to two runs being scored. Kayla Bartley (1-for-3) with two outs would hit a game-tying solo home run.
The fourth inning would bring even more excitement.
Lexi Dressler (1-for-3) opened the top of the inning with a leadoff double and would reach third base on a stolen base attempt. A few batters after Dressler’s double, Serenity Campbell (0-for-2) got out on a pop fly, but the ball was hit deep enough to allow time for Dressler to tag and score the go-ahead run. It would be the only time the Lady Cougars led in the game.
Now trailing for the first time in their last three games, the Lady Mountaineers answered with the game-changing five-run inning. After the first three batters reached base to load the bases, Bartley got a ball just too much inside which hit Emma Skidmore (0-for-2) which brought the game-tying run in. Bryce Leitch (2-for-4) would then reach on a fielder’s choice but brought in the go-ahead run to put the team up 5-4. A few batters later, Kaylee Nicely (1-for-4) crushed a three-run home run to put the Lady Mountaineers ahead by four runs at 8-4.
The Lady Cougars had no answer this time around after surrendering the lead. The team did manage a run in the seventh inning on a solo home run from Laken Cantrell (1-for-4).
Kendell Keene (W/0-for-4) picked up her fifth win of the season after allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits while walking one and striking out eight batters. Kay. Nicely paced the offense with three RBI’s as all three came on her home run. Leitch and Kalin Rice (2-for-3) each had a pair of hits for the team.
Five Lady Cougars had one hit a piece as they did not have a multi-hit performance in the loss. Four players had one RBI each, including Cantrell, Bartley, Tyra Rose (0-for-3), and Campbell. Bartley suffered the loss after allowing eight runs (six earned) on six hits, two walks, while striking out six.
The Lady Mountaineers are off until this Friday when they travel to face the Floyd County Lady Buffaloes. Meanwhile, the Lady Cougars host the Eastern Montgomery Mustangs on Tuesday.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CHS 0 0 3 1 0 0 1 5 5 5
AHS 0 3 0 5 0 0 0 8 9 3
Lady Cougars Box Score
Player AB R H RBI BB SO
Cantrell, CF 4 2 1 1 0 0
Rose, 3B 3 0 0 1 0 0
Morris, 1B 3 0 1 0 0 1
Bartley, P 3 1 1 1 0 0
Hicks, SS 2 0 0 0 1 1
Dressler, 2B 3 1 1 0 0 1
Stayton, RF 2 0 0 0 0 2
Reynolds, RF 1 0 0 0 0 1
Campbell 2 0 0 1 0 1
Marshall, LF 3 1 1 0 0 1
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TEAM 26 5 5 4 1 8
PITCHING
Player IP H R ER BB SO
Bartley (L) 6 6 8 6 2 6
————————————————-
TEAM 6 6 8 6 2 6
Lady Mountaineers Box Score
Player AB R H RBI BB SO
Leitch, CF 4 1 2 1 0 0
Keene, P 4 0 0 0 0 4
Kay. Nicely, C 4 1 1 3 0 0
Fridley, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 1
Cash, SS 3 1 1 0 1 1
Middleton, LF 2 1 1 1 1 0
Kel. Nicely, 3B 3 1 1 0 0 0
Rice, RF 3 1 2 0 0 0
Skidmore, 2B 2 2 0 1 0 0
———————————————————
TEAM 29 8 9 6 2 6
PITCHING
Player IP H R ER BB SO
Keene (W) 7 4 5 2 1 8
————————————————–
TEAM 7 4 5 2 1 8
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