Three straight singles and a costly two-run error undid a third-inning tie and was ultimately the catalyst for a game-breaking rally Thursday, leading Todd County Central High School to a 7-2 home softball victory over McLean County.
With the score tied 2-2, and following consecutive base hits by Naomi Welborn, Jocelyn Mock and Addison Woodall, the visiting Cougars committed a defensive error that allowed a pair of base runners to score and put MCHS in a hole it would never crawl back out of. The Rebels proceeded to score three more times in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 5-2 advantage overall.
Mock (2-0), who earned the pitching victory for the second game in a row, buckled down after TCCHS grabbed the lead and proceeded to throw two hitless innings that prevented McLean from sniffing a comeback threat. Seventh-grader Abby Craig, making her varsity pitching debut, finished off the win by striking out the side during a perfect inning of relief.
The first seven batters in the Todd Central lineup had a hit against the Cougars, including two each from Welborn and Naomi Gammon. One of Gammon’s hits was a lead-off triple in the first inning. She eventually scored the game’s first run on an RBI single by Abby Williams. Dakotah Gammon went 1-for-2 with a walk, run, and RBI for the Rebels, who have now won two straight contests.
McLean County (2-7) had won two games in a row of its own coming into Thursday’s matchup. The Cougs were led in defeat by eighth-grader Sophie Frailley (1-for-4, walk, double, run, RBI) and Abigail Walker (1-for-2, walk, RBI). Macie Geel (1-2) gave up eight hits and six earned runs to take the loss.
Playing four games in three days, Todd County Central (2-1) will take the field again at 6 p.m. Friday in an All “A” 4th Region pairing with Metcalfe County in Elkton. The Rebels are then scheduled to host a doubleheader Saturday against Bowling Green (11 a.m.) and Hopkinsville (3 p.m.).
