Lady Mustangs Improve To 8-2
The MCHS softball team open its defense of the Big 8 Conference Championship.
The McDonald County High School softball team opened its defense of the Big 8 Conference championship with a 9-4 win Sept. 1 in Aurora to improve the Lady Mustang’s overall record to 8-2.
McDonald County scored three runs in the third and four in the sixth to build a 7-0 lead before Aurora mounted a mini-rally with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Lady Mustangs added two runs in the seventh before Aurora scored its final run in the bottom half of the inning.
Cloee Helm started a two-out rally in the third with a single. Helm stole second and third before Hanna Schmit walked and stole second to put runners on second and third for Kylie Helm. Helm’s smash to shortstop was too hard to handle, allowing both runners to score. Helm came around to score the third run of the inning on two passed balls.
In the sixth, Kylie Helm singled to lead off the inning. Whitney Kinser walked before Kali McClain drove in the first run of the inning with the first of two consecutive RBI bunt hit. Paige Jones had the second bunt before both she and McClain scored on passed balls.
Aurora put together a bunt hit, two doubles and a single for its three runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Cloee Helm and Kylie Helm combined for four of the Lady Mustangs’ seven hits. Kinser, McClain and Jones added one hit each.
Jones went the distance on the mound to pick up the win. The senior right-hander allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out 11 without issuing a free pass.
Nixa
McDonald County scored two runs in the first inning and one each in the second and sixth and Jones made them stand up in the
Lady Mustangs’ 4-1 win over Nixa on Sept. 2 at MCHS.
Jones held Nixa to a second-inning run, allowing six hits while striking out four and walking two.
Cloee Helm singled to lead off the Lady Mustangs’ bottom half of the first inning. With two outs, Kinser singled to right to drive in the first run before Aubrie Dunn walked and McClain singled to drive in the second.
Kenzie Stephens doubled and scored on an error in the second. McDonald County’s final run came when Rita Santillan singled, stole second and third and came home on an error.
McDonald County was held to seven hits, one each by Cloee Helm, Kylie Helm, Kinser, Dunn, McClain, Santillan and Stephens.
McDonald County continues play in the Big 8 Conference on Sept. 8 when they host Seneca. Game time is 5 p.m.