Todd County Central’s Abby McPherson was the hard-luck loser in the circle in Monday’s 13th District semifinal matchup with top-seeded Logan County, coming out on the wrong end of a 3-1 score despite holding the Lady Cougars to only three hits and a single earned run.
After helping the Lady Rebels to a 6-4 victory in the teams’ first meeting, McPherson got roughed up in a 15-1 defeat in the rematch. On Monday, she only faced six batters over the first two frames before running into trouble in the 3rd.
Logan County pitcher Shayla Johnson led off the inning with a single and came home on McKenzie Robinson’s one-out single to right field. With two outs, the Lady Rebels handed Emerson McKinnis an intentional walk to load the bases. McPherson got the ground ball she needed to get out of the inning, but an error allowed two runs to score for all the support Johnson would need.
Todd Central got its lone run in the top of the 4th, with Avery Luckenbill’s two-out single driving in Karli Herrera after she reached on an error to start the inning.
But the Lady Rebels only managed three baserunners the rest of the way, including Rylann Griggs’ double to lead off the top of the 7th. Griggs made it to third with two outs and the tying run at the plate, but Abby Williams’ line drive was caught in right field to end the game.
Johnson had two of the Lady Cougars’ three hits and earned the win after scattering three hits, walking three, and striking out seven in seven innings.
McPherson walked two and struck out five. Williams, Luckenbill, and Griggs each had a hit for the Lady Rebels.
Todd Central saw a four-game win streak come to an end to finish the season at 18-14.
Logan County improved to 17-9 to advance to Wednesday’s championship matchup with Russellville. The third-seeded Lady Panthers upset Franklin-Simpson 12-9 in the nightcap.
