SHADY SPRING- Two weeks ago, the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans rolled into Shady Spring, scored three runs late, and escaped with a thrilling 7-6 victory.
Unfortunately, on Wednesday evening in the first game of sectional play, the results were not the same and not in East’s favor.
East fell behind early in the first two innings and never recovered as the Tigers scored a 9-1 win over the Lady Spartans.
After Greenbrier East batted and went down in order to open the game, the Tigers offense stepped in and took momentum quickly. With one out, two subsequent Spartan errors put runners on first and second. That’s when Jenna Joyce lined a 2-run double to right field and put the Lady Tigers up 2-0. Two batters later, Annabelle Sturgill singled home Joyce, and after one inning of play, Shady led 3-0.
Trailing 4-0 in the top of the fifth, East tried to claw away at the deficit. Following two quick outs, Reagan Cline came to the plate and drove a home run to right field to put East on the board and trim the Tiger lead to 4-1.
But Shady stole the positive vibes from Cline’s shot right back in the bottom half of that fifth frame. Sturgill hit a 2-run single that scored Peyton Raban and Joyce, and the Tigers were slowly pulling away and now leading 6-1.
Just for good measure, Shady added three runs in the sixth and secured the 8-run-rule win when Joyce scored on an error during Brooklynn Blankenship’s double.
The Spartans committed seven errors in the game that contributed to six unearned Shady runs. Kennah Collins got the start for East in the pitcher’s circle and went 4.1 innings, gave up six hits, three earned runs. She walked three and struck out three.
Joyce’s all-around game saw her strike out eight Spartan hitters and on offense she went 3-4, scored three runs, and drove in two more. Sturgill was 2-3 with three RBIs.
Cline led East with a 2-3 night including her home run. Ally Martin, Collins, and Jenna Groves each had one hit apiece.
The Spartans will host the Princeton Lady Tigers on Thursday, May 8. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM.
