The first time the Christian County Lady Colonels and Lyon County Lady Lyons met this season it was a tough day for pitchers and defenses. Christian County outslugged Lyon County 17-12 in the first days of the season at Lee S. Jones Park. Saturday’s second matchup between the two teams was just a little bit different.
Riley Hancock got Hadlie Butler to ground out to first with the bases loaded to end the game as Christian County held on for a 5-4 win on their home field. The final out came after Lyon County had already scored two runs in the inning, and gotten the tying run to third and the go-ahead run to second.
The two teams will likely look back at the game a little differently. The Lady Colonels will look at the timely pitching and defense they had to get out multiple jams in the game. On the other hand, the Lady Lyons may look back at missed opportunities they had to score more runs and find away to come out with the win.
Lyon County would end up leaving 11 runners on base, including the three in the final inning.
Christian County got to the lead early in the game. Tenley Gilbert blasted a three-run homer to right field in the first inning to give the Lady Colonels a 3-0 lead.
Karlee Crick singed and Gilbert doubled with one out in the bottom of the third. Crick would then score on a sac fly from Gracie Harned to extend the lead to 4-0.
In the top of the 4th, Lyon County’s Rachel Coursey was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cut the lead to 4-1. Sydney Melton then led off the top of the fifth with a home run to center to make it a 4-2 game.
One of the big moments of the game came in the top of the 7th inning. Hadlie Butler reached first base with a one-out walk bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of one of the 2nd Region’s most dangerous hitters, Lyon County’s Calista Collins.
Coach Sherry Hancock brought in change of pace pitcher Allie Houchen to face Collins. Houchens promptly got Collins to ground into an inning-ending double play to turn back the threat.
Christian County got what would turn out to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Aalaisha McGregor reached base on an error to start the inning. After a sacrifice and a ground out, Pinkle Winkler ripped a single to centerfield to score the run and the Lady Colonels looked to have things going their way as the game moved to the top of the 7th inning.
Things then got very interesting in the seventh. Sydney Melton led off the inning with a single. Gracie Harned, who started the game for Christian County, returned to the circle to face Kaelyn Conger. Conger drew a walk to put runners at first and second with no outs.
Riley Hancock then stepped into the circle for Christian County. Hancock got Gracen Wynn to pop up on the infield for the first out of the inning. Katelyn Dykes then drew a walk to elevate the drama to “tilt” level, as the bases were now loaded with one out.
Hancock struck out Lilly Perry for the second out of the inning. Tori Schenk singled to right to cut the lead to 5-3, with the bases still loaded. Lauren Davis then beat out an infield single to short to make it a one-run game at 5-4, setting up the drama of the ground out to end the game with the bases still loaded for Lyon County. That marked the second inning that the Lady Lyons left the bases loaded, as the fourth inning ended with the sacks loaded as well.
Tenley Gilbert led the way for Christian County at the plate, going 2-3 with a double, a home run, three RBIs, and a run scored. Pickle Winkler finished 2-3 with a double and what turned out to be the game-winning RBI.
Eight different Lady Colonels had a hit in the game, as Christian County scored its five runs on a total of ten hits.
Sydney Melton had a big day at the plate for the Lady Lyons, going 3-4 with a home run, an RBI, and two runs scored. Katelyn Dykes finished 2-2 and had a pair of walks. Six different Lady Lyons had a hit in the game as Lyon County scored their four runs on nine hits.
Gracie Harned gave Christian County 5 1/3-innings of solid work in the circle. She gave up three earned runs on six hits, striking out one while walking six.
Lilly Perry went the distance for Lyon County, giving up five runs, four of them earned, on ten hits, striking out two, while walking only one.
The game capped off a nice rebound day for Christian County. The Lady Colonels opened the day by taking down Logan County. The two wins come after a pair of tough losses to Crittenden County and Henderson County on Thursday and Friday.
Christian County now stands at 18-7 on the year, while Lyon County is now at 19-9.
