Softball swats Yellow Jackets

The Lady Pioneers’ Kayley Murray slides into third well ahead of the throw to Grundy County’s Brandy Congrove during Thurrsday’s first inning.

WCHS went ahead 2-1 after an inning, and tacked on another run in the second before blowing things open with a seven-run third.

Ashlee Malone started the big inning with a bunt single, but injured her ankle stealing second base and was lifted for pinch-runner Amber Ray. Katie Rogers reached on an error, and Kayley Murray followed with a walk, loading the bases for Linnsay Williamson, who drove in her second run of the day with a bloop single up the middle.

Mary Kate Fisher grounded out to second, scoring Rogers, and Murray later came home on a while pitch. Williamson scored when Christy Perry lined a hard single off Grundy pitcher Alissa Dickerson, and Bethani McGuire came home when Anastasia Chisam slammed a double to right field.

With two out in the inning Brittany Locke came on to bat in place of Malone, and came through with a two-run single to right, giving her team a 10-1 advantage.

Fisher and Perry drove in runs in the bottom of the fourth, plating Murray and Williamson, respectively, but Grundy County’s bats came to life in the top of the fifth, as they connected off reliever Alyssa Millraney for four runs on two hits, three walks and a bases-loaded hit batsman.

Shelbi Knowles replaced Millraney in the pitching circle, and got her team out of the inning with no further damage, but gave up three runs in the next inning on a pair of hits, including a two-run double by Loren Pickett.

WCHS added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, when Perry singled home Fisher, and Knowles coaxed three straight ground balls in the seventh to seal the victory for the Lady Pioneers.

Perry led the way at the plate with a 4-for-4 game including three runs batted in, while Williamson had three hits and a pair of RBIs. Murray had a pair of hits, while Malone, Locke, Fisher and Chisam had one apiece.

The Lady Yellow Jackets got a 2-for-3 game from Dickerson, while Brandy Congrove and Pickett had two hits apiece.

Warren County’s next game is scheduled for Tuesday night, at home against Blackman.