Lady Pioneers edged by OHS
The Lady Pioneers turned in one of their best performances of the year at home Tuesday against the Lady Patriots of Oakland, but fell to the No. 2 team in the district 1-0.
Oakland’s only run would come in the top of the first inning. Jessica Boyce led off for the Lady Patriots and singled up the middle. Pioneers pitcher Erica Warren got Ashley Hodge to hit into a fielders choice, then Michelle Ayers singled to put runners on the corners. Ayers stole second and Boyce scored on the steal. The Lady Pioneers committed their only error of the game on the next batter but got out of the inning with out any further damage.
In the bottom of the first Warren County’s Tracy Medlen singled to left. Lacey Griffith was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Boyce got the next three hitters to ground out and strike out to end the inning.
In the second Oakland put their first two batters on with singles to center field. The Lady Pioneers defense recorded the next three outs as Oakland stranded two. Warren County went down in order in their half of the inning.
The Lady Pioneers played solid defense over the next two innings shutting down the Lady Patriots in order. In the bottom of the fourth, Brittany Patterson led off with a single up the middle as Warren County tried to get their offense going. But Oakland used their gloves to record the next three batters.
Oakland threaten in the top of the fifth when a single and a walk put runners on with two outs. Warren struck out Kaycie Jones to get out of the inning. Warren County tried to put a run across the board in their half of the inning. Shelly Hayes reached on an error and Candace Stubblefield laid down a bunt to put Hayes in scoring position. With two outs and Hayes at third Boyce got the badly needed strike out to end the inning.
Defense by the Lady Pioneers rose to the occasion in the top of the sixth and seventh innings. The Lady Pioneers sent Oakland back to the dugout in order in both innings. However the Lady Pioneers went down swinging in the sixth and seventh to give Oakland the win.
Warren County had four hits on the day and committed one error. Warren gave up five hits, walked one and had one strike out on the day. For Oakland, Boyce allowed four hits walked one and had three strike outs.
The Lady Pioneers were scheduled to take on White County Thursday at home as Warren County honored its seniors.