Hannah Thorson won the game Friday night for the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers in a couple of ways. First, Thorson went the distance in the circle and picked up the pitching victory. Second, it was Thorson’s two-out hit in the bottom of the 9th inning that walked the Lady Tigers off to a 7-6 win over the Warren Central Lady Dragons.
The walk-off came after both teams rallied to stay alive in the game.
Hopkinsville was leading 4-3 going into the top of the 7th. Warren Central’s Jazlyn Glover hit an RBI triple with one out to tie the game at 4-4. Hopkinsville went quietly in the bottom half of the inning to send the game to extras.
In the 8th, it looked as if the momentum of the seventh had carried on for the Lady Dragons. With a runner starting on second, a Hopkinsville error allowed Warren Central to go up 5-4. Jewel Walterman then came up with an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-4 and that would be how the game entered the bottom of the 8th.
Taylor Joachim started the inning on second base and advanced to third on a ground out. Faith Dansbury came up with a single to score Joachim and cut the lead to 6-5. Keniya Manson would later reach on an error allowing Dansbury to score and force the game into the 9th inning.
It appeared Warren Central’s momentum was going to continue but a big swing came early in the ninth. The Lady Dragons’ Amparo DeJesus was thrown out at home on a double-steal attempt. Additionally, the other runner, Jazlyn Glover was called out for interference, wiping out a chance to score for Warren Central.
In the bottom of the inning, Zoey Thomas was placed on second base. Thomas advanced to third on a ground out. Setting up Thorson’s game-winning hit.
Hopkinsville had controlled the game most of the night, taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kaitlyn Kaetzel had an RBI triple and Daijha Owen an RBI double in the quick start for the Lady Tigers.
Hannah Thorson ended up 3-5, including the game-winner. Faith Dansbury and Esther Pepple were each 2-3 in the game.
In the circle, Hannah Thorson went nine innings, giving up just two earned runs, striking out four, while walking eight.
