Fourth inning leads to MHS run-rule win over Hillsboro
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — For three innings, the McClain Lady Tigers and Hillsboro Lady Indians were close to even on the scoreboard … but in the fourth and fifth innings, the Lady Tigers broke away for a 12-2 run-rule victory, Monday in Greenfield.
After three innings, the South Central Ohio League game was a 3-2 lead by the Lady Tigers, as they scored their three runs in the second inning, and HHS scored their two runs in the third.
In the McClain second, Morgan Dettwiller, Kate Crabtree and Emily Sterling all crossed home plate. Dettwiller opened the bottom of the second with a base hit, followed with a walk by Crabtree. Sterling followed with a walk as the first three batters of the inning all reached the base. Dettwiller scored on a passed ball, Crabtree jogged home on an errant throw to third and Sterling scored on a base hit to centerfield by Sasha Lawwell.
HHS responded with a two-run third when Taylor Moberly (2-for-3) and Meriah Goad scored runs. Goad began the inning with a single, and was batted in by Haylee Wehrung. Moberly scored off a ground out by Katie Baker.
The Lady Indians totaled five hits for the game.
Then came the fourth inning, and that's when the outlook of the game went to McClain … for good.
"We have one inning where we just can't seem to get away from," HHS head coach Katie Moberly said. "We can't continue to force our pitchers to get six or seven outs in an inning, just because our defense makes errors."
In the fourth, Landrum, Shania Massie, Jenna Perie, Dettwiller, Sterling, Brittany Mullikin and Ali Willett all scored runs in the inning, as the Lady Tigers sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
"Our fourth inning … I told the girls to relax," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "They did that and put a big inning together. Our pitch selection was great, and I liked that.
"I'm just proud of the girls."
What turned into a seven-run inning began with Mullikin reaching on a error, and with one out, Willett singled to right field. Landrum walked, and Massie followed up with a base hit to shallow centerfield, scoring Mullikin.
Perie followed with an RBI base hit to score Willett. Dettwiller walked with the bases loaded to score Landrum.
With two outs, Sterling reached on an error, allowing Massie and Thompson (who was pinch running for Perie). Mullikin singled in her second at-bat of the inning, scoring Dettwiller and Mullikin.
In the fifth, Willett scored on a ground out by Perie, and the final run was scored by Massie (a pinch runner) for Katy Unger, who drew a walk. The run came on a wild pitch.
Landrum was the winning pitcher for MHS, as she pitched five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk. She struck out two.
"Cierra continues to pitch well," Haines said. "Plus, our defense was great."
The loss went to Earley. Also pitching for HHS was Ali Stratton.
"Hillsboro's pitching had us off-balanced early on," Haines said. "We took advantage of walks, errors and we were selective at the plate."
Moberly said she pleased with the effort of her younger players.
"The effort from our younger kids is great," she said. "We need our older kids to step up."
The Lady Tigers totaled 11 RBIs with Mullikin leading with four RBIs, followed by Perie and Sterling with two RBIs each. Massie, Dettwiller and Lawwell each had one RBI.
McClain also had seven walks, with Landrum and Dettwiller each with two.
MHS will play again on Tuesday as they host Waverly in a non-league game. On Wednesday, MHS will now host London. Game starts at 5 p.m.
HHS will play again on Wednesday in a home league game against Miami Trace.
BOX SCORE
HHS 002 00 — 2 5 4
MHS 030 72 — 12 8 2[[In-content Ad]]
After three innings, the South Central Ohio League game was a 3-2 lead by the Lady Tigers, as they scored their three runs in the second inning, and HHS scored their two runs in the third.
In the McClain second, Morgan Dettwiller, Kate Crabtree and Emily Sterling all crossed home plate. Dettwiller opened the bottom of the second with a base hit, followed with a walk by Crabtree. Sterling followed with a walk as the first three batters of the inning all reached the base. Dettwiller scored on a passed ball, Crabtree jogged home on an errant throw to third and Sterling scored on a base hit to centerfield by Sasha Lawwell.
HHS responded with a two-run third when Taylor Moberly (2-for-3) and Meriah Goad scored runs. Goad began the inning with a single, and was batted in by Haylee Wehrung. Moberly scored off a ground out by Katie Baker.
The Lady Indians totaled five hits for the game.
Then came the fourth inning, and that's when the outlook of the game went to McClain … for good.
"We have one inning where we just can't seem to get away from," HHS head coach Katie Moberly said. "We can't continue to force our pitchers to get six or seven outs in an inning, just because our defense makes errors."
In the fourth, Landrum, Shania Massie, Jenna Perie, Dettwiller, Sterling, Brittany Mullikin and Ali Willett all scored runs in the inning, as the Lady Tigers sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
"Our fourth inning … I told the girls to relax," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "They did that and put a big inning together. Our pitch selection was great, and I liked that.
"I'm just proud of the girls."
What turned into a seven-run inning began with Mullikin reaching on a error, and with one out, Willett singled to right field. Landrum walked, and Massie followed up with a base hit to shallow centerfield, scoring Mullikin.
Perie followed with an RBI base hit to score Willett. Dettwiller walked with the bases loaded to score Landrum.
With two outs, Sterling reached on an error, allowing Massie and Thompson (who was pinch running for Perie). Mullikin singled in her second at-bat of the inning, scoring Dettwiller and Mullikin.
In the fifth, Willett scored on a ground out by Perie, and the final run was scored by Massie (a pinch runner) for Katy Unger, who drew a walk. The run came on a wild pitch.
Landrum was the winning pitcher for MHS, as she pitched five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk. She struck out two.
"Cierra continues to pitch well," Haines said. "Plus, our defense was great."
The loss went to Earley. Also pitching for HHS was Ali Stratton.
"Hillsboro's pitching had us off-balanced early on," Haines said. "We took advantage of walks, errors and we were selective at the plate."
Moberly said she pleased with the effort of her younger players.
"The effort from our younger kids is great," she said. "We need our older kids to step up."
The Lady Tigers totaled 11 RBIs with Mullikin leading with four RBIs, followed by Perie and Sterling with two RBIs each. Massie, Dettwiller and Lawwell each had one RBI.
McClain also had seven walks, with Landrum and Dettwiller each with two.
MHS will play again on Tuesday as they host Waverly in a non-league game. On Wednesday, MHS will now host London. Game starts at 5 p.m.
HHS will play again on Wednesday in a home league game against Miami Trace.
BOX SCORE
HHS 002 00 — 2 5 4
MHS 030 72 — 12 8 2[[In-content Ad]]