Lady Titans Softball Catch Fire In 10-5 Win Over Casey County
The Harrodsburg Herald/Casey Roberts
Senior Kallise Gammon was the leadoff hitter against Garrard County on Thursday, March 30, going 3-for-4.
Casey Roberts
Herald Staff
Sports@harrodsburgherald.com
The Mercer County Lady Titans softball team (2-6) bounced back from last week’s loss with an impressive 10-5 victory over Casey County (2-4).
To begin the game, the senior lead off hitter Kallise Gammon did her job perfectly by getting on base after drawing a walk. Junior Emily Worthington moved Gammon into scoring position after taking four pitches outside the zone as well. On the following pitch, Gammon used her speed to swipe third base. Gammon sealed the first run of the game after taking advantage of an error that allowed her to score and Worthington to move to third base.
Ashley Howard took the start for the Lady Titans. The righty surrendered five runs on 11 hits over six and two-thirds innings, striking out five, and picking up her second win of the year.
Howard opened the game by striking out the first hitter for the Lady Rebels. Casey County then went on a run that included a single, walk, stolen base and an error that scored two runs. Howard struck out the next two batters consecutively to end the inning, after the first inning Mercer found themselves down, 2-1.
Senior Madisynn Griffin began the second inning the same as the previous one, by drawing a base on balls. The Lady Titans next two hitters failed to move Griffin into scoring position but a hit batter gave Mercer a chance to even the score with two outs in the inning. In Gammon’s second at bat she tied the game by picking up her first RBI of the season, scoring Griffin from third base.
After allowing a single to begin the bottom half of the second inning, Howard found her groove by striking out the next two batters she faced and forced a weak pop up for the third out of the inning. After the second inning, the score remained tied at 2-2.
The third and fourth innings proved to be uneventful for both teams, but the score remained deadlocked after the fourth. After a bleak start to the fifth inning, the Lady Titans came alive. Junior Peyton Boyd started the two-out rally with an infield single. Junior Haylee Ransdell followed up with a single of her own. Junior Hanna Beasley then delivered big time with the team’s first home run of the season, scoring three runs and giving Mercer the 5-2 lead.
After Beasley’s base-clearing shot, the Lady Titans were in business again thanks to two consecutive bases on balls. Mercer’s pitcher then made the opposing pitcher pay when she hit a line drive into center that scored Griffin and Mia Floro and built Mercer’s lead to 7-2. Freshman Jayla Sanders capped the rally with another double which scored Howard. In all the Lady Titans plated five runs in the inning.
The Mercer offense went on to score two more runs, while Howard held the Lady Rebels to minimal production. The Lady Titans clenched the much-needed win over Casey County, 10-5.
Beasley had the team’s first dinger of the season. Peyton Boyd went 2-for-5 at the plate to lead Mercer County in hits. The Lady Titans stole nine bases during the game, and Gammon led the way with four.
The Lady Titans will take on Bethlehem in their next contest Saturday, April 8. Starting time will be 10 a.m, at the Elizabethtown Sports Park.
