After a loss to Union County in the first game of a Thursday doubleheader, Lyon County softball coach Jason Collins had a one-way conversation with his team.
This came after Lyon County had two runners thrown out at home and issued six walks in an 8-6 loss to the Bravettes.
The Lady Lyons responded with 12 runs, and Lilly Perry willed herself to the complete-game win to help Lyon gain the split with a 12-8 win in the nightcap.
In the first game, Ashlynn Hargrove’s RBI single staked Union to an early 1-0 lead.
Lyon answered with a run in the home half of the first but had two runners thrown out trying to score in the frame. Perry plated one run with a double. Courtney Collins followed with a double but the second run was cut down at the plate.
Union added four runs in the second inning with Jaylen Tackett’s three-run double proving to be the key shot. The Bravettes added another run in the third inning when Leah Hunley doubled home a run.
Lyon got three runs back in the fourth inning on a bases-loaded walk and a misplayed fly ball.
Union County added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning that proved important to extend its lead to 8-4.
In the seventh, Calista Collins ripped a double and Hadlie Butler followed with a two-run homer to draw Lyon to within 8-6. However, Peyton Jenkins induced a fly-out to end the game.
Butler and Perry both finished with three hits and two RBIs for Lyon. Emma West also added a pair of hits and pitched the final five innings in relief, allowing three runs on six hits.
Lauren Davis added three hits for Lyon County, batting in the ninth spot.
Calista Collins had two hits and was walked three times in the contest.
Hunley led Union County with three hits, including two doubles. Tackett and Teagan Windell each had a pair of hits.
Cadence Coker got the pitching win with Jenkins picking up the three-inning save.
Following the postgame motivational message from the coach, Lyon County looked a little more focused and their bats were more alive in the second game. It also helped that Calista Collins saw pitches to hit.
Collins smashed two home runs and drove in six runs to lead the Lady Lyons to a 12-8 win.
Her first homer of the game was a two-run shot in the second inning that doubled Lyon’s lead to 4-0. She added a grand slam in the fourth inning that moved the Lady Lyon lead to 12-5.
Collins finished her night 4-for-5 with 5 runs scored, six RBIs and four walks in the two games.
Perry added three hits, and Davis had two more for the Lady Lyons. Jenna Coursey also had a two-run double.
Perry, who took the loss in the opener, won game two, getting some help from the Lady Lyon bats and gloves.
Sydney Thomas, Tackett, Hargrove, and Bryleigh Walsh each had two hits for Union County (8-12).
Lyon County (7-6) will play at Hickman County Friday.
