With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, the McCracken County Lady Mustangs needed just one run to defeat the visiting Trigg County Lady Wildcats. Tied 4-4, sophomore Lilly Hamilton stepped up to the plate after the previous two at-bats were intentionally walked and connected for a perfectly placed fly ball over the heads of the outfield to clinch the 5-4 victory.
“I’m feeling great,” Hamilton said after her big night. “I knew I could do it, I just haven’t been hitting well lately, so it was a big confidence booster for me and it just feels good to help my team get the win.”
The victory marks the 28th of the season for the Lady Mustangs and an extra exclamation point as they celebrated their three seniors, Savannah McDowell, Cami Cox and McKenzie OBrien.
“Those seniors have really helped me grow and have encouraged me a lot, so I’m glad I could help contribute to the win on their special night,” Hamilton said.
McCracken was productive from start to finish against one of the best pitchers in the state in Tember Oliver. The sophomore hurler allowed the Lady Mustangs 10 hits throughout the night with five runs, all earned, with three walks and three strikeouts.
Those 10 hits were distributed among seven different Lady Mustangs with Macy Butler leading the charge, going 3-for-4 with one run. Hamilton would follow, going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
While it was McCracken that won it, the Lady Wildcats would get on the board first, taking an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second. The Lady Mustangs were quick to respond. Singles from Ava Knight and Hamilton, followed by a walk for Cami Cox, loaded the bases for OBrien to hit a line drive double to even the score.
Defenses worked through the next few innings, making quick turnarounds for both teams. Savannah McDowell would take the 3-2 advantage when the knocked a home run over the center field fence in the first at-bat in the bottom of the fourth, but three sequential outs followed to limit the runs.
McCracken’s teamwork showed with a few double plays sprinkled in the mix to help their defensive innings become more impactful and stall the Lady Wildcats offensively.
A sacrifice bunt from Addley Leidecker scored the fourth run, pushing Kinley Dowdey home for the 4-2 lead.
Trigg made things interesting when sophomore Kady Fuller hit a solo home run of her own in the sixth and the Lady Wildcats would tie the game up 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh.
Then came Lilly Hamilton to seal the deal.
McCracken County has just two games left in their regular season journey. They will take on Livingston Central on Thursday at home and round it out with Henderson County on Saturday.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 5, TRIGG COUNTY 4
TRGG 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 — 4 8 0
MCCR 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 — 5 10 1
2B: MC — M. OBrien; TC — J. Visingardi
HR: MC — S. McDowell; TC — K. Fuller
TB: MC — S. McDowell 4, M. Butler 3, L. Hamilton 2, M. OBrien 2, A. Knight 1, K. Dowdy 1, O. Lee 1; TC — K. Fuller 5, J. Visingardi 4, L. Breckel 2, A. Tember 1
SB: MC — M. Butler 2
E: MC — A. Knight
RECORDS: MCCRACKEN COUNTY (28-5), TRIGG COUNTY (19-11)