The Grayson County Cougar softball team picked up a very nice win on Tuesday, 4-3 over the visiting Muhlenberg County Mustangs at the Cougar Softball Complex.
Cougar hurler, junior right-hander Mikayla Clark, pitched all seven innings for the win, scattering nine hits while walking two and striking out a pair. Clark also had a key hit in the sixth inning when the Cougars scored a pair of runs, including the eventual winning run.
The Mustangs got on the board first with a run in the top of the third inning. Center-fielder Rilen Gettings led off with a single, was sacrificed to second, then went to third on a groundout. Gettings scored when first baseman Hannah Gossett singled into the hole at short on a hard-hit ground ball that just eluded a diving attempt by Cougar shortstop Maddie Duvall.
The Cougars came back in the bottom of the inning, scoring a pair of runs to take their first lead of the day. Left-fielder Jenna Nash reached on a one-out single, then moved to third when centerfielder Kenzie Renfrow doubled to the fence in right-center.
First baseman Embry Thorpe followed with a hard shot up the middle which was fielded by Mustang pitcher Emma Rose. When Rose held the ball, thinking about trying to get Renfrow at third, her throw to third was late and everyone was safe, loading the bases.
Catcher Bailey Snyder followed with a single up the middle that plated Nash to tie the score at 1-1. Renfrow later scored when a throw from Mustang catcher Courtney Hale got past Rose and went into the outfield.
The Mustang tied things again with a run in the fifth inning. Once more, Gettings led off with a single, then stole second base. With two outs, Gossett walked to put runners at first and second, and when Karisa Pendley followed with a single to short center, the Mustangs had the bases loaded.
Hale followed that with another single to center which plated Gossett to tie the score, but when Gossett also tried to score on the play, she was caught in a rundown between home and third and was eventually tagged out by third baseman Lindsay O’Neal to end the inning.
The Cougars took the lead for good with a pair of unearned runs after two were out in the sixth inning. Renfrow and Thorpe grounded out at the top of the inning before Snyder and O’Neal had back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second.
That brought up Clark, who ripped a line drive back up the middle which caught Rose on her shin and knocked her to the ground. In obvious pain, Rose got to the ball and threw late and wild trying to get Clark at first for the final out.
Snyder scored when Rose’s throw went down the line in right. O’Neal was going to hold at third on the play, but when the return throw form the outfield got away, she also came in to score, making it 4-2.
The Mustangs threatened again in their final at bats. With one out, Lauren Walker singled, then moved to second on a wild pitch. Walker went to third on a single to left by Alyssa Brewer, and when Nash’s throw from left missed the cutoff, Brewer moved to second, putting the potential tying run in scoring position.
Gossett followed by hitting the ball back to Clark for the second out, but Walker was able to score on the throw to first and Brewer moved to third. Clark then induced Pendley to pop up behind third base, where Duvall was able to make a diving catch to end the game.
The Cougars improved to 2-3 for the season with the win. They totaled 11 hits in the game, including two each from Thorpe, and the Snyder sisters, Bailey and Rachael.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
Shortstop Maddie Duvall made a diving attempt at this sharp single
to left by Muhlenberg’s Hannah Gossett in the third inning.
Kenzie Renfrow headed to third as Embry Thorpe moved
into second following a single by Bailey Snyder in the
bottom of the third.
Second baseman Shelbi Fisher fielded a grounder
as Muhlenberg’s Rilen Gettings headed to second.
Gettings was able to avoid a double play when
she eluded Fisher’s tag attempt.
Bailey Snyder crossed the plate in the fifth inning as Lindsay
O’Neal pulled into third. O’Neal also scored on the play when
a throw from the outfield got away.
