For the first couple of innings, it looked like Lyon County and Christian County might go down to the wire Thursday night. And then, when the Lady Lyons took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, it looked like the Lady Colonels might be in a fight to the finish. Then the Lady Colonel bats woke up, in a big way.
After being held to just one hit over the first two innings, the Lady Colonels pounded out 12 hits, including two home runs, and scored 14 runs over their final two at-bats as they roared back to take a 14-2 five-inning win over the Lady Lyons. Christian County scored eight runs in the bottom of the second, five of them coming with two outs.
Pickle Winkler and Riley Hancock had the big hits in the inning. Winkler cleared the bases with a three-run double and Hancock followed with an RBI double of her own.
After getting Lyon County to go quietly in the top of the fourth, the Lady Colonels plated six more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Karlee Crick led off with a solo shot to center. Chloe Craft would add a two-run double in the inning and Pickle Winkler hit a two-run shot to center.
Gracie Harned then set down the Lady Lyons in the top of the 5th to end the game.
Pickle Winkler had a big game for Christian County, finishing 3-4 with a double, a home run, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Riley Hancock went 3-3 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Karlee Crick was 2-3 with a home run, two RBIs, and a run scored. Chloe Craft ended up 2-3, with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Ryan Graham, Kendra Richardson, and Lauren Davis had one hit each for the Lady Lyons. The top of the Lyon County order struggled mightily against Gracie Harned. The first six batters in the lineup combined to go 0 for 12 in the game.
Harned was solid in the circle for Christian County going five innings. She gave up two runs, neither of them earned, on just three hits. She struck out three while walking only one.
Christian County improves to 16-6 on the season. They head to Bowling Green Friday to take on Christian Academy of Louisville and Bowling Green in the Greenwood Border Battle.
The Lady Lyons drop to 10-8. The Lady Lyons will begin defense of their All A state championship Saturday in Owensboro.
