The McCracken County Lady Mustangs started off slow but came alive down the stretch to take care of business in the first round of the First Region tournament, downing Graves County 13-1.
McCracken took advantage of seven walks, six of which came in the bottom of the fourth inning to get ahead big and never look back.
Graves were the ones to get on the board first courtesy of Ginger Martin grounding out to bring home Payton Hayden in the top of the first inning.
It would be a defensive stretch through the next few innings as both teams found more energy after each out, emphasizing the First Region rivalry.
McCracken found their groove in the bottom of the third when Alyssa Knight hit a line drive double to center field to score Walker and Owens for the 2-1 lead. Addley Leidecker would add to it with a sacrifice bunt in the next at-bat to bring home Knight for the 3-1 game.
A quick defensive inning for McCracken put the bats right back in their hands and they got right to work. Two quick walks with one out put runners on for Knight to ground into a fielder’s choice as her teammates stole bases to get into scoring position. The fielder’s choice would score Olivia Lee.
A walk in the next at-bat would load the bases and Owens would get dinged to push a run in. A walk for Knight would make it 6-1 followed by another walk for Leidecker and K. Brewer would double to right field to bring home Owens and Knight for the 9-1 score.
McCracken just kept rolling as a sac fly for Lee brought home Lawrence. Macy Butler followed with a ground ball single to center and Knight followed with a pop fly to short for the 13-1 score.
With all of the momentum, McCracken came out on defense and delivered exactly what Graves wasn’t — strikes. Addison Dudley struck out the first two of the bottom of the fifth inning before walking Hayden. Brooklyn Cole would step up and in the first pitch of the at-bat, hit a fly ball to right field which was caught by Brewer to end the game.
The win gave McCracken the advantage on the season as Graves and McCracken split a doubleheader earlier in the night.
Dudley pitched a complete night, striking out five while allowing one hit, one earned run and walked three. Brooklyn Cole took the loss for Graves, allowing four hits, seven earned hits, walked five and struck out three. Olivia Powers came in for 0.2 innings of relief with three hits, six earned runs and walked two.
McCracken County advances to take on the winner between Calloway County and Hickman County which was the night cap of the night Monday.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 13, GRAVES COUNTY 1
GRVS 1 0 0 0 0 X X — 1 1 0
MCCR 0 0 3 10 X X X— 13 7 0
2B: MC — A. Knight, A. Knight, K. Brewer
TB: MC — A. Knight 4, A. Knight 2, K. Brewer 2, A. Leidecker 1, M. Butler; GC — T. Bailey 1
HBP: GC — P. Hayden
SB: MC — A. Knight
RECORDS: MCCRACKEN COUNTY (24-13-1); GRAVES COUNTY (20-13-1)