WC softball edged 5-4 by Falcons
The Lady Pioneers dropped a heartbreaker Monday at home against Lincoln County. The Lady Falcons slipped past the Lady Pioneers 5-4.
“We are playing better but we seem to be making a few mistakes early in the game that are costing us a run or two. We dig ourselves a hole and have to fight to get out of it,” said coach David Upton.
“The girls are hitting and playing good ball, but we are having one inning in every game that really hurts us. I’m proud of the way we are fighting back and not getting down. But we have to stop making mistakes at crucial times. We are moving in the right direction. A few calls could have gone our way today and it might have made a difference. We will have to start winning these close games before we can earn the respect of the officials and opposing teams.”
The Lady Falcons struck in the first inning with two runs. An infield hit and a double to center scored Lincoln County’s first run. An error by the Lady Pioneers and a double put the Lady Falcons out in front 2-0. Lady Pioneer pitcher Erica Warren with her defense behind her recorded the next two outs with ground balls to get out of the inning.
In Warren County’s half of the inning the Lady Pioneers lead-off batter struck out and a fly to center made the second out. Brittany Patterson walked and stole second to put her in scoring position but the number four hitter flied to second to get Lincoln County out of the inning.
In the top of the second a hit, an error scored two more runs for the Lady Falcons before Warren County could get out of the inning. The Lady Pioneers jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second with one run. Jasmine Ware had a single and stole second. Ware scored on a sac-fly by Tara Wood and a throwing error by Lincoln County to make it a 4-1 ball game.
In the third solid defense and two strike out by Warren sent the Lady Falcons back into the field. Tracy Medlen led off with a single up the middle for Warren County and Lacey Griffith followed with a bunt to put runners on first and second with no outs. Patterson moved the runners over with a sac-fly and Cassie McGinness hit into a fielders choice to score Medlen. With one out Ware hit a fielder choice to score Griffith to make it a 4-3 game. Warren County hit two grounders to record the second and third out as they pulled within one.
Lincoln County led off the top of the fourth with a double to left but the Lady Pioneers defense got the next three batters to get out of the inning. Warren County tied the game in their half of the inning when Crystal Jones reached on a bunt. Medlen singled, Griffith reached on a bunt to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Jones to tie the game. Warren County left two runners on as Lincoln County got out of the inning.
Lincoln County went in order in the top of the fifth. Tara Wood singled for the Lady Pioneers but was left stranded.
The Lady Falcons took the lead in the sixth off of a error and a hit to make it 5-4. Warren County put back to back singles together in their half of the inning with Medlen and Jones. Patterson lined to the pitcher and the lead runner was called out at third for the second out. McGinness flied out to left to end the inning.
The Lady Pioneers put Lincoln County down in order in the top of the seventh with hopes of sending the game into extra innings. The Lady Pioneers got a single from Penny Wanamaker with two outs but Warren County failed to score.
Warren County committed nine errors on the day. The Lady Pioneers were schedule to play Riverdale Tuesday at home and then take on Lebanon at 4 p.m. today at home.