5-run 7th inning extends McClain lead over Hillsboro for FAC win
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The McClain Lady Tigers led by a single run over host Hillsboro on Tuesday night after six innings. The seventh inning, however, was all McClain as the visitors broke out for a five-run top of the seventh to extend their lead and seal the Frontier Athletic Conference win by a 10-4 score.
McClain finishes their conference schedule in second place in the standings with a 6-4 record in FAC play.
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Hillsboro led by a 1-0 score after the first inning was completed and built a 3-0 lead after two innings. In the first, Hillsboro’s Riley Moberly (2-for-3, hit-by-pitch, one run) scored the first run of the game, reaching first base after being hit by a pitch. Moberly scored in the ensuing at-bat off a two-out double by Christine Page for the 1-0 lead.
Two more runs were added in the bottom of the second with Kelcie Thornburgh and Jordan Williamson scoring runs. Thornburgh reached first on a fielder’s choice and went to second off a base hit by Williamson. Both runners scored off a bases-loaded walk by Jordan Moberly (Reagan Kiley walked in the previous at-bat), and Riley Moberly had an RBI single, scoring Williamson.
“Our girls have gotten much better, and we played a quality team in (McClain), and they aren’t always give the respect they earned this year,” Hillsboro head coach Katie Moberly said. “They have played well this year, have a great record in the league and I think that should be honored and they deserve that credit because they have done a nice job this year.
“Our girls have played well against (McClain) this year, but we have just come up short, but at least they are rising to the occasion. It would be easy to give up at this point, but the girls are working hard every day and getting better every day.”
McClain responded with a three-run third inning with Allison Beatty (2-for-5, one run, one triple), Beckley Smith (2-for-4, hit-by-pitch, one run, three RBI) and Kaeli Anderson all rounding the bases as Anderson walked to be the first base runner for MHS in the inning. Following an out, Beatty walked and Smith hit an RBI singe, plating Anderson. For the game, Anderson had no official at-bat as she was walked twice and was hit by a pitch on two occasions.
After the second out was recorded, Kaleigh Easter batted in two runs off a single, allowing Beatty and Smith to cross home plate, tying the score at 3-3.
From there, the Lady Tigers took the lead for good with a two-run fourth inning as Brianna Weller and Anderson scored runs, making it a 5-3 advantage. Weller opened the inning with a double and then advanced to third. Next, Weller (2-for-4, two RBI, one run) scored on a passed ball for the first run of the fourth.
McClain continued with Anderson drawing a walk and scoring a run on a RBI ground out to second base off the bat of Smith.
“The status of our program and where we are at, a win is always a good thing,” McClain head coach Ed Bolender said. “It gets us going in the right direction, and overall we are not really happy about any phase of this game besides getting the win.
“Our base running was atrocious tonight, and we kept hitting balls out late in the zone … everything was polar opposite from last night (vs. Washington). We played so well (against Washington), played as well as we did all year, but this could be an emotional letdown … I’m just not real sure what happened today.”
The Lady Indians answered with a run in the fourth inning as Thornburgh took first base on an infield error. She scored on a ground out to third base by Jordan Moberly.
Five final runs in the game were scored by McClain in the top of the seventh as Kendall Pollard, Easter (2-for-4, one run, two RBI), Brooklyn Rickman, Payton Smith and Anderson all scored runs. RBI in the inning were from Pollard (after being hit by a pitch), Beckley Smith (off a single) and two RBI by Weller (off a single).
Also for the Lady Indians, Mallory Parsons was 2-for-4.
Cierra Bolender was the winning pitcher for McClain, and the loss was charged to Riley Moberly. Bolender in seven innings allowed four runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks, as she also struck out one batter.
McClain finishes their conference schedule in second place in the standings with a 6-4 record in FAC play.
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Hillsboro led by a 1-0 score after the first inning was completed and built a 3-0 lead after two innings. In the first, Hillsboro’s Riley Moberly (2-for-3, hit-by-pitch, one run) scored the first run of the game, reaching first base after being hit by a pitch. Moberly scored in the ensuing at-bat off a two-out double by Christine Page for the 1-0 lead.
Two more runs were added in the bottom of the second with Kelcie Thornburgh and Jordan Williamson scoring runs. Thornburgh reached first on a fielder’s choice and went to second off a base hit by Williamson. Both runners scored off a bases-loaded walk by Jordan Moberly (Reagan Kiley walked in the previous at-bat), and Riley Moberly had an RBI single, scoring Williamson.
“Our girls have gotten much better, and we played a quality team in (McClain), and they aren’t always give the respect they earned this year,” Hillsboro head coach Katie Moberly said. “They have played well this year, have a great record in the league and I think that should be honored and they deserve that credit because they have done a nice job this year.
“Our girls have played well against (McClain) this year, but we have just come up short, but at least they are rising to the occasion. It would be easy to give up at this point, but the girls are working hard every day and getting better every day.”
McClain responded with a three-run third inning with Allison Beatty (2-for-5, one run, one triple), Beckley Smith (2-for-4, hit-by-pitch, one run, three RBI) and Kaeli Anderson all rounding the bases as Anderson walked to be the first base runner for MHS in the inning. Following an out, Beatty walked and Smith hit an RBI singe, plating Anderson. For the game, Anderson had no official at-bat as she was walked twice and was hit by a pitch on two occasions.
After the second out was recorded, Kaleigh Easter batted in two runs off a single, allowing Beatty and Smith to cross home plate, tying the score at 3-3.
From there, the Lady Tigers took the lead for good with a two-run fourth inning as Brianna Weller and Anderson scored runs, making it a 5-3 advantage. Weller opened the inning with a double and then advanced to third. Next, Weller (2-for-4, two RBI, one run) scored on a passed ball for the first run of the fourth.
McClain continued with Anderson drawing a walk and scoring a run on a RBI ground out to second base off the bat of Smith.
“The status of our program and where we are at, a win is always a good thing,” McClain head coach Ed Bolender said. “It gets us going in the right direction, and overall we are not really happy about any phase of this game besides getting the win.
“Our base running was atrocious tonight, and we kept hitting balls out late in the zone … everything was polar opposite from last night (vs. Washington). We played so well (against Washington), played as well as we did all year, but this could be an emotional letdown … I’m just not real sure what happened today.”
The Lady Indians answered with a run in the fourth inning as Thornburgh took first base on an infield error. She scored on a ground out to third base by Jordan Moberly.
Five final runs in the game were scored by McClain in the top of the seventh as Kendall Pollard, Easter (2-for-4, one run, two RBI), Brooklyn Rickman, Payton Smith and Anderson all scored runs. RBI in the inning were from Pollard (after being hit by a pitch), Beckley Smith (off a single) and two RBI by Weller (off a single).
Also for the Lady Indians, Mallory Parsons was 2-for-4.
Cierra Bolender was the winning pitcher for McClain, and the loss was charged to Riley Moberly. Bolender in seven innings allowed four runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks, as she also struck out one batter.