Lady Cougars Play Tougher Against Floyd
By David Gravely
In their last meeting just a few short weeks ago, Floyd rattled off twelve hits while holding the Lady Cougars to only four as they defeated Pulaski soundly 13-0. Floyd took home a second win over Pulaski on Wednesday, but the Lady Cougars didn't go down without a fight this time as they fell by a final score of 9-8.
"We did a great job of getting the bat on the ball tonight, but we made too many critical errors at key moments of the game" said Lady Cougar Head Coach Gina Miano. "It was a great game that we should have been able to pull out, but two errors cost us four runs. You can't do that against a team expected to make a run deep in the playoffs and expect to win."
The scoring got underway immediately in the first inning, as Floyd took advantage of one hit, three walks, a sacrifice, and an error to take an early 2-0 lead. Pulaski battled back, scoring two runs of their own on two hits, a walk, and an error to tie things up. The Lady Buffalo's picked up where they left off in the second inning, adding two more runs on two hits, a walk, and an error. They could have continued to add to their score, but shortstop Kasey Holcomb made a fine double play to end the inning.
Motivated by the double play, the Lady Cougars came out hot in the bottom of the second inning. Kelli Duncan started things off with a single, and then Whitney McDaniel sacrifice bunted to move her to second. Lauren Foster earned a trip to first on a walk, and then catcher Jordan Chrisley stepped in to hit a booming two RBI double to score Duncan and Foster. Carli Brewer executed another sacrifice bunt to move Chrisley to third, and then Holcomb hit an RBI single to bring the speedy catcher home, giving the Lady Cougars a 5-4 lead.
Pulaski held Floyd in check in the top of the third, and then extended their lead to 7-4 off of three hits, a sacrifice, and a steal. Floyd got back to business in the top of the fourth inning, scoring two runs on a walk, a hit, and an error before holding the Lady Cougars scoreless in the bottom of the fourth. Floyd was able to score a run to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning, putting the score at 7-7.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Cougars broke the tie. With two outs on the scoreboard, Holcomb put Pulaski in business with a double. With Bethany Anderson up to bat, Holcomb stole third, and then Anderson hit a well placed single to allow Holcomb to cross home plate, giving Pulaski an 8-7 lead. Floyd contined to fight, however, and after a double and a walk, both runners advanced on passed balls to get into scoring position. Floyd pinch hitter Heather Fink stepped into the batters box and hit a two RBI single to give the Lady Buffalo's the 9-8 lead, and then tough defense allowed them to hang on for the win.
"We went from having two hits in the last game to twelve hits in this one" said Miano. "I thought it was a great, competitive game that we should have won, but I'll take the effort. Some of the girls that have been struggling with the bat come on strong today, and the ones that have been consistent stayed that way. We lost the game, but we got a little bit of our pride back after the way they beat us last time."
Kaitlin Smith pitched the entire game for Pulaski, facing 35 batters. In that time, she allowed 7 hits, 9 runs (3 earned), 6 walks, and four strike outs. Hitting for Pulaski, Chrisley went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI's. Brewer went 1 for 2 with two sacrifice bunts, Holcomb went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, an RBI, and two steals, and Anderson went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Brooke Hundley went 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI's, Sara Wright went 1 for 4 with a run scored, and Kelli Duncan went 2 for 4 with a run scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Whitney McDaniel went 0 for 2 with two sacrifice's, but earned an RBI on one, and Lauren Foster went 0 for 2 but scored a run when she was walked.
The Lady Cougars go back into action on Friday when they travel to Wytheville to take on the George Wythe Lady Maroons. Pulaski gets back into River Ridge District action on Tuesday when they take on Salem. Game time for both games is set for 5 pm.
By David Gravely
In their last meeting just a few short weeks ago, Floyd rattled off twelve hits while holding the Lady Cougars to only four as they defeated Pulaski soundly 13-0. Floyd took home a second win over Pulaski on Wednesday, but the Lady Cougars didn't go down without a fight this time as they fell by a final score of 9-8.
"We did a great job of getting the bat on the ball tonight, but we made too many critical errors at key moments of the game" said Lady Cougar Head Coach Gina Miano. "It was a great game that we should have been able to pull out, but two errors cost us four runs. You can't do that against a team expected to make a run deep in the playoffs and expect to win."
The scoring got underway immediately in the first inning, as Floyd took advantage of one hit, three walks, a sacrifice, and an error to take an early 2-0 lead. Pulaski battled back, scoring two runs of their own on two hits, a walk, and an error to tie things up. The Lady Buffalo's picked up where they left off in the second inning, adding two more runs on two hits, a walk, and an error. They could have continued to add to their score, but shortstop Kasey Holcomb made a fine double play to end the inning.
Motivated by the double play, the Lady Cougars came out hot in the bottom of the second inning. Kelli Duncan started things off with a single, and then Whitney McDaniel sacrifice bunted to move her to second. Lauren Foster earned a trip to first on a walk, and then catcher Jordan Chrisley stepped in to hit a booming two RBI double to score Duncan and Foster. Carli Brewer executed another sacrifice bunt to move Chrisley to third, and then Holcomb hit an RBI single to bring the speedy catcher home, giving the Lady Cougars a 5-4 lead.
Pulaski held Floyd in check in the top of the third, and then extended their lead to 7-4 off of three hits, a sacrifice, and a steal. Floyd got back to business in the top of the fourth inning, scoring two runs on a walk, a hit, and an error before holding the Lady Cougars scoreless in the bottom of the fourth. Floyd was able to score a run to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning, putting the score at 7-7.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Cougars broke the tie. With two outs on the scoreboard, Holcomb put Pulaski in business with a double. With Bethany Anderson up to bat, Holcomb stole third, and then Anderson hit a well placed single to allow Holcomb to cross home plate, giving Pulaski an 8-7 lead. Floyd contined to fight, however, and after a double and a walk, both runners advanced on passed balls to get into scoring position. Floyd pinch hitter Heather Fink stepped into the batters box and hit a two RBI single to give the Lady Buffalo's the 9-8 lead, and then tough defense allowed them to hang on for the win.
"We went from having two hits in the last game to twelve hits in this one" said Miano. "I thought it was a great, competitive game that we should have won, but I'll take the effort. Some of the girls that have been struggling with the bat come on strong today, and the ones that have been consistent stayed that way. We lost the game, but we got a little bit of our pride back after the way they beat us last time."
Kaitlin Smith pitched the entire game for Pulaski, facing 35 batters. In that time, she allowed 7 hits, 9 runs (3 earned), 6 walks, and four strike outs. Hitting for Pulaski, Chrisley went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI's. Brewer went 1 for 2 with two sacrifice bunts, Holcomb went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, an RBI, and two steals, and Anderson went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Brooke Hundley went 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI's, Sara Wright went 1 for 4 with a run scored, and Kelli Duncan went 2 for 4 with a run scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Whitney McDaniel went 0 for 2 with two sacrifice's, but earned an RBI on one, and Lauren Foster went 0 for 2 but scored a run when she was walked.
The Lady Cougars go back into action on Friday when they travel to Wytheville to take on the George Wythe Lady Maroons. Pulaski gets back into River Ridge District action on Tuesday when they take on Salem. Game time for both games is set for 5 pm.
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