It’s tough enough to win a matchup against a quality softball team. It becomes a gigantic task when you give that team extra opportunities through extra base runners over the course of a game. That is exactly what happened as the Christian County Lady Colonels hosted Owensboro Catholic Monday evening.
The Lady Aces took advantage of 12 walks and one hit batter from three different Christian County pitchers, with six different appearances, to build a big lead and then hold on to pick up a 9-5 win. The Lady Aces’ win avenges a 9-6 loss to the Lady Colonels back on March 19 in Owensboro.
Christian County took the early lead in the game. Pickle Winkler led off the bottom of the first with a double, stole third, and then scored on a passed ball to give the Lady Colonels a 1-0 lead after one.
After threatening in the first inning, Owensboro Catholic put six runs on the board in the top of the second inning. After a leadoff walk, Abbie Dukate sent one over the centerfield fence to give the Lady Aces the lead at 2-1. Bailey Hamilton drove in a run with an RBI single and then her sister Brooke Hamilton drilled a three-run homer to left field to run the lead out to 6-1.
Abbie Dukate drove in another run in the top of the third with a double to extend the lead to 7-1. After three walks to lead off the top of the 5th, the Lady Aces would add two more runs to move the lead to 9-1 and it looked like it might be a short night for Christian County.
However, the Lady Colonels got a bit of a rally going in the bottom of the sixth. After Riley Hancock singled, Karlee Crick rocketed a line drive over the centerfield fence to cut the lead to 9-3. Gracie Harned then drew a walk, followed by LaiLai McGregor blasting a shot to the same part of the field as Crick’s shot a moment earlier, and suddenly the lead was down to 9-5.
But that would be the end of the rally for the Lady Colonels as Brooke Hamilton was able to hone back in and get out of the sixth and then struck out the Lady Colonels in order in the seventh for the win.
The Lady Colonels were limited to just four hits in the game by Brooke Hamilton. In addition to the home runs from Karlee Crick and LaiLai McGregor, Christian County got a double from Pickle Winkler and a single from Riley Hancock.
Christian County saw action from three pitchers in the circle. Gracie Harned made three appearances, Riley Hancock two, and Allie Houches made one during the course of the seven innings.
The loss drops the Lady Colonels to 8-3. Weather permitting, Christian County is set to host Henderson County Tuesday evening.
