Andrea Federico
Lyon County and Crittenden County combined for a near-state record 39 base hits on Monday. But it was the last hit that rang out the loudest.
Lady Lyon senior Gracen Wynn drove a 2-2 pitch over the fence in centerfield for a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving Lyon an astounding 20-19 victory over the Lady Rockets in 5th District softball action in Eddyville.
Lyon (9-9 overall, 3-1 district) scored five times in its final at-bat after Crittenden (9-11, 0-5) had put up four runs in the top of the eighth.
It was an unexpected extra-inning affair after Lyon had built a 14-4 lead through four innings. The Lady Lyons were just three outs away from ending the game early on the 10-run mercy rule.
But Crittenden rallied with a three-run fifth inning to keep the game going, then got four runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to tie things at 15-15.
The Lady Rockets appeared to have the momentum going to the eighth, and seemed to be on the verge of an historic comeback win when they went up 19-15 behind Elle McDaniel’s three-run double with two outs in the inning.
Lyon’s hopes diminished even farther when it started the bottom of the eighth with a ground out and a strikeout.
A walk by Courtney Collins extended the inning. Lilly Perry followed with an RBI single to make it 19-16.
Jenna Coursey drove in another run with a single up the middle to cut the gap to 19-17.
That brought up Wynn with two on and two out. Wynn twice fouled off 2-2 pitches before delivering the game-winning blast with the final swing of the contest.
Wynn finished 2-for-4 with four runs batted in. Brenna Breitrick was 4-for-5 with a double, a triple and two RBIs.
Coursey was 3-for-6 and knocked in three while Lauren Davis was 3-for-6 with an RBI and three runs scored. Perry went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Perry was the winning pitcher on what was a tough day to be a hurler. She allowed 10 earned runs on 17 base hits in seven innings. She struck out eight and walked five while throwing 143 pitches.
McDaniel had a huge game at the plate for Crittenden. She went 5-for-6 with two doubles and seven runs batted in while scoring four runs.
Jaycee Champion was 5-for-5 with a double and a triple while driving in five runs. Hannah Jent finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Three Crittenden pitchers combined to throw 167 pitches.
The Lady Rockets outhit the Lady Lyons 21-18. The 39 combined hits came up just two short of the state record. According to KHSAA numbers, Oldham County and Louisville Assumption totaled 41 hits in March of 2019.
The Lady Rockets were already second on that list. Crittenden and Caldwell County combined for 38 hits in April of 2021.
Lyon plays another district game on Tuesday when it visits Livingston Central.
Crittenden will go to Marshall County on Thursday.
