FAIRLEA- On a hot, April Saturday afternoon, the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans put together a big fourth inning that lifted them to an impressive 14-6 victory over the Oak Hill Lady Red Devils at Spartan Field in Fairlea.
The Spartans had 15 hits on the day and were good in the field and committed just one error.
When the game started in the first inning, it was a high-scoring affair.
Oak Hill led things off and four of their first six batters got hits and they went up 3-0 early. Then, with that score the same, Kennedy King scored on a passed ball at home plate and Ava Emery scored on an error soon after, and after the top of the first, Oak Hill had jumped out to a 5-0 lead.
But the Spartans (5-4), who are skilled at the plate, answered nicely.
Reagan Cline led off the bottom half with a double and three consecutive Red Devil errors later, East had trimmed the deficit to 5-2. A sac fly from Haylee Heaster made it 5-4 after one as Greenbrier East was right back in it.
Spartan pitcher Kennah Collins settled down in the second and quickly got through with three outs and brought the East offense back on the field. Ally Martin took advantage and singled home Paige Totten who had singled herself to lead off the frame, and the Spartans tied the game at 5-5 after two.
After a scoreless third inning from both teams, Greenbrier East took complete control in the fourth. Martin started with a single, Collins also singled, and then Campbell Bundy got in on the action as well with an RBI base knock to make it 6-5, East. Jenna Groves followed with a 2-run base hit and Liz Wooding singled home Heaster and at that point the Lady Spartans led 9-5.
But they weren’t done.
Martin then doubled home Wooding and Maddie Baker and after four full frames, the Spartans held a 12-5 lead.
Wooding ended the game in the fifth with a 2-run double that scored Heaster and Groves.
Martin picked up three hits in four at-bats and scored two runs with three RBIs. Wooding was also 3-4 with a run and three knocked in. Collins, Bundy, and Groves each had two hits.
In the pitcher’s circle, Collins went five innings, scattered five hits, three runs, and struck out five batters.
Peyten Ferrell led Oak Hill (6-4) with two hits.
Greenbrier East will return to their home field this Tuesday, April 8 to host the James Monroe Lady Mavericks. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 PM.
