The Hopkins County Central softball team snapped a 6-game skid at the expense of hosts Todd County Central on Monday, with the Lady Storm overcoming 8 errors in a 14-9 victory.
The Lady Rebels drop their fourth in five tries to even their record at 6-6. They return to their home field on Tuesday to entertain 13th-District rival Russellville.
The Lady Storm jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st and stretched it to 6-1 in the 2nd after an RBI triple by Keira Bryan and a run-scoring single from Emmaleigh Crook.
With two on in the 2nd, Lucy Cumbee singled to center and a Hopkins Central error allowed both runners to score and Cumbee to come all the way around to cross the plate and cut the Lady Storm advantage to 8-4.
Leading 10-4 in the 6th, Hopkins Central got a pair of RBI singles from Mallory Higgins and Amelia Johnson and another run on a passed ball to build the lead to double digits and put the Lady Rebels on the verge of a mercy-rule loss.
But a 2-out rally in the bottom of the frame kept Todd Central in it, with Jocelyn Mock and Haylee Vass singling in runs and another crossing on an error to trim the margin to 6.
After Lady Rebel starting pitcher Maddie Williams lasted just over an inning, Mock came on the finish the game. She allowed 8 runs, 6 earned, on 6 hits with 7 walks and 5 strikeouts, and retired the Lady Storm in order in the 7th.
After a walk and a single by Case to start the Lady Rebels’ last at-bat, the Lady Storm’s 8th error of the game allowed a run to score. With runners on 1st and 2nd, a strikeout and a fly-out ended the game.
Hailie Hollis got the win for Hopkins Central, working 5 1/3 innings and yielding 8 runs, all unearned, on 10 hits with 3 strikeouts and no walks. Bryan got the last out of the 6th and pitched the 7th, allowing 1 unearned run on a hit with a walk and a strikeout.
Mock had a pair of hits and 2 RBI, with Abby Williams, Vass, and Cumbee each driving in a run. Cumbee, Vass, and Case also each had 2 hits.
