Lady Bucks nip Genoa
HORATIO -“It was a great game. We tried to give it away.”
That’s how Smackover coach Dennis Steele summed up the Lady Bucks’ 14-13, 8-inning win over Genoa Central Saturday in the semifinals of the 3A Region 4 Tournament.
Smackover was scheduled to meet Horatio in the championship game Saturday night.
The Lady Bucks led Genoa Central 10-5 going into the seventh. But, the Lady Dragons scored eight runs to lead 13-10 with Smackover now down to its final at-bat. After Sabrina Estridge and Makayla Burroughs walked, Lydia Pullin tied the game with a three-run homer.
“We were in a must-take,” said Steele. “But, I told her, that first pitch if it’s there, ‘you’re not taking it.’ She hit it and I mean it was way over the fence. She’s been hitting the ball so well. She’s on a tear.”
In the top of the eighth, the Lady Dragons bunted the runner from second to third. But, Karis Robinson got the second out on a liner back to the pitcher. The next batter grounded out to Reagan Richardson at shortstop.
The Lady Bucks began the bottom of the eighth with Robinson at second base. Lexi Gilbert singled and Karli Goocher walked to load the bases. Brooklyn Dees followed with a game-winning single up the middle.
“I’m real proud of the way they came back,” said Steele. “They didn’t panic. It was just a great game.”
Abby Crawford pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing 11 runs, including five earned,
with seven strikeouts and seven walks. Robinson, who entered the circle with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh, earned the victory, pitching the final
1 1/3.
Smackover committed five errors in the game, which lasted more than three hours.
“I’m proud of the way
Karis came in. They got a hit off her but she did real well and then pitched a great eighth inning,” said Steele.
The Lady Bucks opened the scoring in the first when Pullin singled and eventually scored on Goocher’s sacrifice fly.
With the score tied at 1-1, Smackover
scored three in the third on Goocher’s three-run homer. The Lady Bucks came back with four in the fourth. Vanessa Lofton reached on an error. After Burroughs walked, Pullin drove in two with a single. Richardson singled before Crawford reached on an error, plating a run. Gilbert doubled in Richardson to build an 8-1 lead.
The score was 8-3 in the bottom of the fifth when Dees walked and scored on an infield hit by Estridge. The Lady Dragons scored two in the top of the sixth. Smackover got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run by Richardson.
Pullin was 3-for-5 with a homer and five RBI. Richardson was 2-for-4 with a homer. Gilbert was 2-for-3. Goocher had a homer and four RBI.