Big innings key Shelby softball rout
MARION — Shelby erupted for 10 runs in the top of the fourth inning to overcome a two-run deficit and wound up walloping Marion Harding 18-2 in five innings during a Mid Ohio Athletic Conference varsity softball clash Wednesday.
With their second consecutive league victory, the Lady Whippets moved to 2-4 in the MOAC and 6-8 in all contests. A day earlier the same two met on the red and gray diamond with the hosts winning 11-1 in five.
After the Presidents picked up single runs in the first and second innings and carried a 2-0 advantage into the fourth inning, the SHS bats finally got going and erupted as the visitors sent 15 batters to the plate.
Shelby’s big inning featured six hits, three walks and a hit batter.
The Whippets took the lead for good at 3-2 when Alexis Booker was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that forced in Raegan Gurney. Sadie Smith followed with a two-run double to centerfield.
SHS followed that stanza with another big inning, plating eight runs in the fifth.
The Shelby fifth was spurred on by five hits, four walks and a hit batter.
Inning No. 5 featured a two-run double off the bat of Lexi Thompson while Mallary Gundrum singled twice in the stanza.
The Whippets finished with 12 hits and eight walks.
Gundrum topped SHS with three singles while Thompson and Alyssa Neill each had two. Smith, Kendal Parsons, Gurney, Tessie Bellomy and Kaitlynn Winters all had one.
Parsons
collected three RBI while Smith, Gundrum, Thompson, Neill and Winters were credited with driving in two runs apiece.
Alexis Booker pitched all five innings for Shelby and nabbed the win and allowed two runs on four hits. She struck out three and didn’t issue a walk.
“Even though we started out slow at the plate, everyone was having quality at bats, that I knew eventually it was going to pay off, and it did,” said Sami Martin, coach of the Whippets. “”Everyone contributed in a huge way. It was a great team win.”
SHS is idle until next Tuesday and travels to Galion.