University Heights Academy was six outs away from securing its first high school softball victory of the season. The opportunity slipped away from the Blazers, however, as Hopkinsville rallied late and prevailed 8-7 in extra innings Monday at Lady Tiger Field.
UHA, which came into the night having dropped its first five games of the 2023 campaign, took a 4-2 lead in the third on JReanna McKnight’s two-out, bases-loaded walk, and went ahead 6-5 in the top of the sixth inning when Katherine Wood’s groundout brought home Trinity Luke.
But that’s when Bailee Ladson took over. On a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth, Ladson gave Hoptown a temporary 7-6 advantage. And after the Blazers tied the game at 7-all in the seventh on a Tiger error, Ladson played hero in the bottom of the eighth with another two-out RBI single that plated Daijha Owen Morand to give Hopkinsville the thrilling home victory.
Hoptown snapped a three-game losing streak with the comeback win and out-hit University Heights 9-7 in the eight-inning affair. The Tigers (7) and Blazers (6) combined for 13 errors, leading to a total of six unearned runs.
Shaniyah Straight (4-3) picked up yet another complete-game win in the circle. She struck out eight in eight innings, helping her overcome seven hits, seven runs (three earned) and three walks. She tossed a clutch 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth that set up the dramatic walk-off victory.
Ladson finished 2-for-5 with the game-high three RBI. She, Jakayla Grubbs and Taylor Joachim each had multi-hit performances. Morand went 0-for-4 but had three runs scored. Joachim finished with two doubles and drew two of five walks issued by UHA senior pitcher Mallory Ladd. Like her counterpart, Ladd went the distance and struck out six, allowing nine hits and seven runs (five earned).
Luke (3-for-5, two doubles, two runs) and Ladd (2-for-5, two runs) led the Blazer offense in defeat. Wood also had a solid night, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. University Heights will try to grab its first win of the season at 5:30 p.m. Friday when it hosts Dawson Springs. The Panthers are 0-11 this season.
Hoptown (4-7) hosts Fort Campbell at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in its second of three straight home games. The Tigers defeated the Falcons 19-7 in 8th District action March 16, behind five RBI from Joachim.
