For six innings, the Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriot softball team kept the Christian County Lady Colonels at bay Saturday afternoon. Behind the pitching of junior Kris-Anne Pardue, solid defense, and timely hitting, AC-S carried a 6-4 lead to the seventh inning---three outs away from a signature win over a top-10 team. Then, Christian County’s bats came to life. Batter-after-batter ripped hits leading to run-after-run. Over a 30-minute span, the Lady Colonels pounded 12 hits and scored 13 runs to turn a two-run deficit into an 11-run lead---a lead that AC-S could not overcome as Christian County prevailed 11-6.
Despite the Lady Colonels’ offensive outburst, AC-S coach Robert Bunton was pleased with his team’s play.
“I did like our effort in the Christian County game,” coach Bunton noted. “Up until the seventh inning we played a good game and we kept them off balanced. We got a little tired in the seventh inning and it just started to click for Christian County. That's why they are one of the top-10 teams in the state. They never gave up and all the chips started falling their way.”
Lady Patriot centerfielder Kalee Skaggs led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to stake AC-S to a 1-0 lead. The Lady Patriots followed with a four-run second. Pitcher Kris-Anne Pardue singled to lead off the inning. Her courtesy runner Macy Pruitt moved to second as RaeAnn Stafford put down a sacrifice bunt. After a pop out by Kali Mutter, Jordan Anderson reached base on an error on the Christian County third baseman. Christian county pitched around Skaggs, loading the bases for Taylor Stamps. The strategy hurt the Lady Colonels when Stamps turned on a fast ball for a grand slam. Her blast gave AC-S a 5-0 lead.
Christian County answered with three runs in the third. A walk and a single off the bat of Hallie Hendricks was followed by a double by Lady Colonel leadoff batter Emily Blaine. Two batters later, Regan Hancock’s single plated the Lady Colonels third run of the game.
The Lady Patriots answered with a run in the third. Madi Gregory opened the inning with a double, moved to third on a single by Allie Byrn, and scored on a Stafford sacrifice fly. AC-S would hold the Colonels scoreless in the fourth and failed to add any insurance runs in their half of the inning. Christian County plated their fourth run in the fifth, scoring on a passed ball.
AC-S missed a solid scoring opportunity in the home half of the sixth. Skaggs’ two-out single was followed by walks by Stamps and Ryley Whitney. However, the bases-loaded threat ended on a fly ball out by Gregory.
Pardue and her Lady Patriots were three outs away from the win when Tyler Shemwell singled to start the seventh. Moments later, Lexis O’Daniel’s homer tied the game at sixth. Five consecutive singles followed as the Lady Colonels built a 9-6 lead. The lead was 10-6 when Tyler Shemwell flew out for the inning’s first out. Two singles, a double, and a home run by Taylor Shenwell completed the 13-run inning giving the Lady Colonels the 17-6 lead.
AC-S finished with eight hits in the game including the homers from Skaggs and Stamps and a double by Gregory. Christian County had 18 hits in the game, including 14 singles. Pardue took the loss surrounding 14 runs on 14 hits in her sixth-and-a-third innings of work. Reliever Allie Byrn gave up three runs on three hits.
The highlight of last week was AC-S 15-2 win last Wednesday against district opponent Monroe County.
“It’s always nice to get your first district win under your belt,” coach Bunton said. “I thought we came out and played a good game against Monroe. We just came out and executed our game plan and came out with the win.”
The Lady Patriots belted 11 hits in the win. Whitney, Gregory, and Byrn enjoyed two-hit afternoon with Skaggs, Stamps, Pardue, Mutter, and Jordan Anderson also reaching base on hits in the game.
Stamps single in the top of the first got AC-S started. Gregory followed with a two-out RBI double. After a single by Byrn, Pardue ripped a one-run double. Byrn added the third run of the game moemnts later, scoring on a Monroe County fielding error.
The Lady Patriots added a run in the second to open a 4-0 lead. Monroe countered with a pair of runs in their half of the inning only to see the Lady Patriots reopen a four run lead on a two-run homer by Mutter in the top of the third inning.
The top of the fourth would all but lock up the game for AC-S. Skaggs homered to start the inning. Stamps reached on an error. Whitney flowered with a two-run homer as AC-S built a 9-2 lead. Gregory reached on an error and soon scored on a hit by Byrn. Walks by Pardue and Mutter loaded the bases for AC-S before another Monroe County fielding error and two walks helped AC-S to the 13-2 lead.
Pardue picked up the win for AC-S. The junior gave up five hits, struck out two, and walked one to earn the win. Pardue faced 23 Lady Falcon batters and managed to throw a first-pitch strike to 15.