Just ten days after falling to Paducah Tilghman for the first time in program history, McCracken County responded with a shutout win over the Lady Blue Tornado, taking home a 3-0 victory. All three runs came from Ava Knight’s blast over the right field wall in the first inning, the homer being the difference in this defensive battle.
McCracken tallied just six hits in the game, but half of them came before the first out was ever recorded. After Olivia Lee walked as the leadoff and Macy Butler singles, Ava Knight stepped in the box and launched a three-run shot over the right field wall, giving the Lady Mustangs a quick lead by striking early.
“We knew if any of them ever made good contact, it was going to go out,” head coach Tony Hayden said after the win. “I don’t think they were thinking about that, but some of their swings they were. Because if you get that rise ball and get it up, it’s going to go out on this field.”
Addison Dudley once again started on the mound for the Lady Mustangs. She threw a complete game, allowing just two hits and two walks. Although recording just a single strikeout, Dudley forced plenty of weak contact while the defense put together a clean game behind her.
“They played defense like we know how to play defense,” Coach Hayden said “Addison threw a great ball game. She did what we asked of her. Defensively, we probably played the best game we have all year with all the ground balls we had to play. We did a great job. Hopefully this carries over into tomorrow and Saturday.”
On the other side, Tilghman’s pitcher Adrienne Romaine settled in after the early hitting spree by McCracken. She finished with six strikeouts, allowing six hits and walking two in seven innings of work.
The rest of the game was a defensive battle, as neither team failed to threaten runners crossing the plate. The final ended as 3-0, as the Lady Mustangs evened up the regular season series at 1-1.
Now at 18-7 on the year, McCracken go on to face two talented teams this weekend. On Friday they will travel to Madisonville- North Hopkins to face a lady Maroon team towards the top of the state rankings. Then on Saturday, they will return to home and face Carterville, Illinois at 3 p.m.
“I just want to see us compete. They’re not ranked number two in the state for nothing. Our record against them has been good, and we’ve always played against them, so that’s what I’m hoping we do on Saturday.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 3, PADUCAH TILGHMAN 1
MC- 3 0 0 0 0 0 0- 3 6 0
PT- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 2 0
WP: A Dudley ; LP: A Romain
2B: E Walker
HR: A Knight
TB: MC- A Knight 4, E Walker 2, M Butler 2, L Owens 1, O Lee 1
PT- K Dykes 1, S Key 1
HBP: K Dowdy
SB: MC- L Owens, M Butler
PT- K Wade
CS: 0 Lee