Softball coaches will tell you the key to winning games is ‘get them on, get them around, and get them in.’
Trigg County was able to complete that task last in claiming a 4-3 win in 10 innings over Madisonville on Monday.
With both teams unable to get a clutch hit when it was needed most, Trigg County took advantage of the international tie-breaker rule that places a runner at second base to begin the inning. For the Lady Wildcats in the 10th inning, it was Maddie Smith.
MaKenna Hendricks got down a sacrifice bunt to move Smith to third base. Livia Breckel hit a pop-fly foul near the fence between home plate and third base. Both Madisonville third baseman Nevaeh Lindle and catcher Maggie Killough converged on the pop-up. Lindle made the catch, and Smith took off for home, beating Lindle in a footrace to the plate and sliding in with the winning run for the Lady Wildcats.
It put the cap on what was a pitcher’s duel between Madisonville’s Mackenzie Stoltz and Trigg County’s Tember Oliver.
Stoltz allowed just one hit and walked three while striking out 15 Lady Wildcats. Her only speed bump came in the fourth inning when she hit Lily Eagleson with a pitch and issued a one-out walk to Smith. After a sacrifice, Breckel hit a soft liner to left field that fell in front of left fielder Katelyn Rodgers that plated a pair of runs, and put Trigg up 2-1.
Madisonville tied the game in the sixth when Stoltz coaxed a lead-off walk, stole second, and came around to score on a soft grounder to second base by Bryanna Harris. Stoltz beat the throw home to knot the game at 2-2.
Both teams had chances to score in the eighth inning, but Madisonville’s threat was thwarted by double play and Trigg County had a runner tagged out at home trying to score on a wild pitch.
Madisonville took a 3-2 lead in the ninth when Reese Renth singled home Kylie Watkins with two outs.
Trigg tied the game in the bottom half when Kady Fuller led off with a walk. Addey Holley, who began the inning at second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch. Lexie Valentine ran for Fuller and stole second, prompting a throw down that scored Holley with the tying run.
Stoltz and Sadie Kirk each finished with two hits for the Lady Maroons. They were also walked twice.
In the circle, Stoltz has allowed two hits and struck out 25 in her last two games against Trigg County – both losses.
Madisonville still leads the all-time series with Trigg County 8-2.
Oliver struck out nine and scattered five hits over 10 innings. She walked five.
Trigg County will host Lyon County on Tuesday, while Madisonville will travel to McCracken County.
Madisonville 100 001 001 0– 3 5 3
Trigg County 000 200 001 1– 4 1 1
WP – Tember Oliver (1-0), 10 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 9 K, 5 BB
LP – Makenzie Stoltz (0-1), 9.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 15 K, 3 BB
