Caldwell County slammed four home runs and Katie Franklin allowed just two base hits as the Lady Tigers eliminated Hopkins County Central 10-1 in the 7th District softball tournament on Monday.
The Lady Tigers (17-11) advance to the district championship game where they will face six-time defending champ Madisonville-North Hopkins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Madisonville.
The Lady Maroons (19-9) routed Dawson Springs 16-0 in their semifinal game Monday.
For Caldwell, a five-run fifth inning blew open a 3-1 game against Hopkins Central (10-21).
The Lady Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Emma Staples doubled and later scored on a bunt by Mashea Glover.
Glover then connected for the first of her two home runs in the contest in the third inning. The two-run shot put Caldwell up 3-0.
Hopkins Central got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Emmaleigh Crook.
In the bottom of the fifth, Majah Hollowell led off the inning with a homer to left. A walk by Shelby Lane was followed by a two-run home run to center by Staples. Haley Stiles drove in another run with a groundout while Madi Choate singled home a run to push Caldwell’s lead to 8-1.
The Lady Tigers added two more runs in the sixth when Staples singled with two outs and Glover followed with a home run to left field.
Glover finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with five runs batted in. Staples was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Chloe Young and Crook each singled for Hopkins Central.
Franklin was the winning pticher for Caldwell. She allowed just one earned run on two hits while striking out 11 and walking two.
Caldwell has won 10 of its last 11 games and 15 of its last 18.
