Lady Ramblers bounce back with two wins in Dalton
The LaFayette Lady Ramblers suffered their first loss of the season in region play this past Tuesday night, dropping a 7-4 decision at Northwest Whitfield.
LaFayette (2-1 in Region 6-4A) led 2-1 after putting up a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, but the Lady Bruins answered with three runs in the home half of the frame and tacked on two more in the third.
The Lady Ramblers tried to stay in the game by plating two runs in the top of the fifth, but Northwest would push home an insurance run a half-inning later and shut out LaFayette over the final two innings.
Freshman Megan Wilson had two hits, including her first career home run — a solo shot — and collected two RBIs in the loss. Madison Pettigrew also had two hits, while Madison Harris, Mackenzie Hogue and Nicky Yancy added one hit apiece. Ashton Stalling plated a run on a groundout.
Hannah Blevins lasted just 1 1/3 innings before being pulled. She took the loss, allowing four earned runs on five hits. Jordan Keith worked the final 4 2/3 innings. She gave up three earned runs on four hits with four walks and just one strikeout.
LaFayette 2, Gordon Lee 1
At the rain-shortened Dalton Lady Cat Invitational on Saturday, the Lady Ramblers and Lady Trojans ended up tied 1-1 after six innings. Up against the time limit, the game went to the international tiebreaker in the seventh.
Pettigrew would strand Gordon Lee’s runner after getting out of the top of the inning with a strikeout and a pair of infield pop-ups.
Then in the bottom of the seventh with the speedy Marquilla Howell at second to begin the frame, Hogue layed down a sacrifice bunt to move Howell to third and Blevins lifted a flyball to left, deep enough to allow Howell to tag up for the game-winner.
Faith Alexander plated Gordon Lee’s only run with an RBI in the top of the second, while Harris walked and stole second in the bottom of the fourth for LaFayette before scoring on a double by Blevins.
Wilson was 2 for 2 for the Lady Ramblers, while Pettigrew went the distance. She allowed four hits and seven hits with seven walks and three strikeouts. The run she gave up was unearned as LaFayette committed an error to put the runner on base.
Canaan Burnett gave up just the three hits and struck out eight in the Lady Trojans’ first seven innings of the season. Gracey Kruse had a double in the loss.
LaFayette 4, Armuchee 1
The Lady Ramblers gave up another unearned run on an error in the top of the first, but got the lead back on a two-run single by Pettigrew and another sacrifice fly by Blevins.
Senior Sydney Adkins later gave LaFayette some breathing room with a solo home run, her first of the season.
Keith threw 4 1/3 innings of fourhit ball to get the victory in the circle. She fanned four and issued just one walk. Yancy worked the final 1 2/3 innings for the save, giving up one hit and striking out one.
Hogue finished the game 2 for 2 as LaFayette moved to 6-2 overall.
Gordon Lee 9, Blessed Trinity 0
The Lady Trojans took out their frustrations in a big way later on Saturday afternoon as they blasted the Lady Titans in a six-inning contest.
Alexander was 3 for 4 with a triple and drove in two runs, while Kruse had a double as one of her three hits.
Janie Durham threw five strong innings to get the win. She gave up just one hit and struck out one. Madison Collier worked the sixth, fanning two and allowing just one hit.
Results of LaFayette’s home game against Ridgeland on Monday were not available as of press time. The lady Ramblers will play at Gilmer on Tuesday and return home on Thursday to face Heritage.
Gordon Lee (1-1) will host threetime defending state champion Calhoun on Tuesday before hosting Christian Heritage in the Region 61A opener on Thursday.