Ladycats Claw Back For A Victory
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The Milan Ladycats softball squad traveled to Gallatin on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 for their first road trip of the season. Milan took on the Gallatin Lady Bulldogs in a Grand River Conference battle. Both squads began slow on offense as both pitchers were dealing. Gallatin scored first in the bottom of the third, 1-0. The Ladycats scored twice in the top of the fifth for a 2-1 advantage. The lead was brief as Gallatin answered with 2 in the home half of the fifth to regain the lead, 3-2. The Ladycats made their final push in the top of the seventh. Two runs put Milan back on top 4-3 and they held on for their first conference victory 4-3 and second victory of the season.
Auburn Cole recorded the first hit of the day with a 2 out single up the middle, but was stranded. Gallatin was set down in order in the bottom of the first.
Avery Pickering led off the Ladycat second with a ringing double to left center, went to third on a ground-out, but did not score. Gallatin also saw their first batter reach base via a Ladycat error. Three strike outs by Cady squashed that threat. No score after 2 innings.
A Lady Bulldog error, with 2 out in the top of the third, put a Wildcat on base. However, a fly out ended the inning. Gallatin got on the board in the bottom of the third. Two Ladycat errors and a passed ball produced a Lady Bulldog tally. Gallatin 1, Milan 0 after 3 innings.
Neither squad scored in the fourth inning. The Ladycat bats and the help of 2 Gallatin errors saw Milan take a 2-1 lead. Janissa Martinez reached first on an infield single with 1 out. Hallie Weaver was safe at first on the first Gallatin error. Janissa advanced to second. Cadence Pauley laced a double to left center to plate Janissa. Hallie was out at the plate, but Cadence scored on a Gallatin error. Milan led 2-1.
Gallatin wasted little time answering with 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead 3-2. The Lady Bulldogs chalked up 3 of their 4 hits in this half inning. With 1 out, 2 straight triples scored one run. A sacrifice fly to center put the Lady Bulldogs back in front. The next batter singled, but was cut down at second on an attempted steal. Amy Pickering to Avery Pickering closed the inning. Milan trailed 3-2 after 5 innings.
Milan collected a single each by Kyla White, and Emerson Pauley, but did not score in the sixth. The Ladycats sat the Ladydogs down in order in the bottom of the sixth, setting up the exciting seventh frame.
Cadence reached on the only walk given up by the Gallatin pitcher, Annebell Ball. Amy Pickering reached on a crucial 3 base throwing error by the Gallatin pitcher. Cadence never stopped running and scored the tying run. Amy ended up at third. Auburn Cole drove a pitch into right field for a run scoring single and game winning run. Gracie Dickson followed with sharp single to left. Two runners on, no outs, but both were left stranded. Three consecutive strike outs closed out the productive inning and Milan led 4-3.
Gallatin had one last opportunity. The lead-off hitter reached on a walk. Cadence was the first and only base-on-balls. Two infield popups and a strike out closed out the game, 4-3.
Cadence recorded the victory tossing all 7 innings using 102 pitches, 71 for strikes. Cady allowed the 3 runs, 2 earned, on 4 hits, 1 walk, striking out 10 batters. The Ladycats committed 4 errors.
Annebell Ball was the losing pitcher, allowing 4 runs, giving up 8 hits, walking 1, striking out 10 Ladycats. The Lady Bulldogs committed 4 errors.
Auburn Cole led the hitting attach with 2 singles. Cadence Pauley and Avery Pickering each had a double. Gracie Dickson, Kyla White, Janissa Martinez, and Emerson Pauley each had a single. Auburn and Cadence each had an RBI apiece. Cadence scored twice, Amy and Janissa had 1 each. Cady walked once.