Lady Pioneers split pair with Blackman

By ADAM SPARKS / Mid-South Sports Network

MURFREESBORO — Blackman and Warren County bats came alive late in separate games Tuesday, as the two District 7-AAA softball squads split a doubleheader at Blackman.

Clinging to a 4-2 lead in the second game, the Lady Blaze (4-8, 2-3) scored four runs off four hits and three Warren County (5-8, 3-4) errors in the bottom of the sixth inning to win 8-2.

Brittney Robertson and Erin McCraw hit a single apiece, and Alana Hicks reached on an error.

Lindsay Merritt then cleared the bases with a triple deep to right-center field.

“We’ve been getting girls on base, but we haven’t been getting key hits,” said Blackman head coach Jill Booth. “We got key hits in the second game, and Lindsay’s hit was the biggest hit for us all year.”

Blackman pitcher Jennifer Gregory threw a no-hitter before giving up two runs off two hits in the top of the sixth.

Robertson and Ashley Campbell led off the fourth with back-to-back doubles and scored to give Blackman a 2-0 lead.

Gregory struck out eight Lady Pioneer batters and walked two.

With the score tied 2-2 in the first game, Warren County junior Jasmine Ware hit a two-run inside-the-park homer to blow the game open in the top of the seventh inning.

“I thought (the Lady Blaze) were going to catch it,” said Ware of her line drive blast to left field. “Once I saw it land, I knew I was going all the way home.”

Cassie McGinness followed with a triple, and Vanessa Cornelius drove her in with a hit to center to give Warren County a 5-2 victory.

“(Ware’s) hit swung the momentum our way,” said Warren County head coach David Upton. “That really let the air out of Blackman’s sail.”

Blackman scored one run in each of the first two innings.

Hicks drove in Gregory on a first-inning single, and Campbell picked up an RBI with a hit to center.

Lady Pioneer pitcher Erica Warren gave up just two more hits and no runs after the second inning.

McCraw went five for seven on the day with two runs scored and one RBI.

Jones led Warren County with three hits and two runs scored.

Warren County was scheduled to take on Oakland on the road Thursday.