The University Heights Academy Lady Blazers very nearly pulled it off Tuesday evening. Trailing 10-4 heading into the bottom of the 7th, the Lady Blazers scored 5 runs and had the tying run at third base and the winning run at second base with two outs.
But alas, it was not to be. McLean County pitcher Braelyn Thomas got Katherine Wood to ground out to third base to end the game and the Lady Cougars held on for the 10-9 win. It was the first win for the Lady Cougars since they returned to action last week after being shut down since Spring Break due to the extensive flooding in McLean County.
McLean County had taken an early 3-0 lead in the game only to see the Lady Blazers battle back. In the bottom of the second, UHA cut the lead to 3-1 when Emily Dilday scored on a passed ball.
The Lady Blazers then pulled even in the bottom of the third on a two-run triple from Dilday that made it 3-3.
McLean County got two runs in the fourth to make it 5-3. The Lady Blazers got one of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning when Katherine Wood scored on a ground out making it a 5-4 game.
The Lady Cougars looked to have things put away with four runs in the 6th and another in the 7th, making it 10-4 heading into the final half-inning.
A walk, an error, and a walk loaded the bases for UHA, but after a pop-up, there were two outs and things looked to be just about over. But give the Lady Blazers their due, they made it more than interesting over the final minutes.
Brooke Hancock drove in two runs with a single to center that made it 10-6. Gracie Ausenbaugh followed that with a single to right and suddenly the game was 10-8. A walk and an error later, UHA scored another run to cut the lead ot 10-9. And when Kennedy Quarles walked, the Lady Blazers had the bases loaded and were on the verge of the improbable comeback, but it was not to be.
Emily Dilday had a big game for UHA, going 3-4 with a triple, two RBIs, and a run scored. Brooke Hancock finished 2-3 with 2 RBIs, and a run scored.
Struggles in the circle hurt the Lady Blazers as they gave up a total of 12 walks and two hit batters.
