Senior Shaniyah Straight had a monster game with a home run and four RBI, but the Hopkinsville High School softball team committed 11 errors and watched a first-inning lead turn into a double-digit loss for the second night in a row Tuesday, as the Tigers fell to Clarksville (TN) Northeast 15-5 in their home opener.
Straight, who was perfect at the plate in Monday’s road loss at Christian County, continued her torrent start to the year by going 3-for-3, doubling, scoring twice, and lining a three-run homer. It was not enough for the Tigers, though, as the visiting Eagles used an inside-the-park HR to take a 14-2 lead in the top of the sixth.
Also like Monday’s season opener, Straight went the distance in the circle. Throwing 124 pitches, she walked just two and struck out four, but allowed eight hits and 15 runs — just four of which were earned — in seven innings of work.
Straight induced three straight ground-ball outs to start the game, and faced just seven batters in the first two innings. In the third, however, Amanda Torres Rivera lined a two-run double to center, tying the game a 2-all. One pitch later, a ground ball by Moana Tuuage was mishandled, allowing Rivera to score what would hold up as the game-winning run.
After scoring five runs in the third and three more in the fifth, Northeast blew it open with a six-spot in the sixth, capped by Jordan Donohue’s inside-the-park four-bagger. She finished 1-for-3 with four runs scored and two RBI. Rivera, who was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI, earned the complete-game win by striking out six, walking none, and scattering seven hits.
Besides Straight, Hoptown (0-2) was led by fellow senior Daijha Owen Morand, who scored twice. She and Straight combined for five of the HHS hits. Hopkinsville will try to end its early slide and pick up its first win of the year at 5:30 p.m. Thursday during a trip to Fort Campbell. The Falcons (0-2) have been outscored 22-2 to start the season.
