Despite holding onto a 2-0 lead, Daviess County had little to no answer to Apollo’s Hannah Holder through the first five innings. Then, in the top of the sixth, Shelby Bennett launched a pitch down the left field side and scurried around the bases for a three-run in the park homer.
It took just Storey Hume 21 pitches to record the final six outs, cementing the Lady Panthers 5-0 win over their 9th District rivals – a game that witnessed an almost two-hour lightning delay.
“I thought we handled the delay really well. We came back really focused,” Daivess County Head Coach John Biggs said. “We battled at the plate, got some runners on, and then Shelby came through with the big hit.”
In the top of the first, a Kylie Clark leadoff double and an Annie Newman single set up Molly Hancock, who singled for the first run of the game. After an Apollo fielding error and Briley Henry popped up, Hume drew a bases loaded walk to push the lead to 2-0.
Holder held Daviess County scoreless over the next four innings, stranding six runners. Yet on the other end, Apollo couldn’t buy a hit due to a Lady Panthers defensive performance that Biggs said was the best he has seen in his 18 years of coaching.
A hit by pitch and a Clark walk set up Bennett’s sixth inning home run in the park. Hume threw a complete game shutout for Daviess County, allowing two hits and walking one over seven innings. Bennett finished 3-3 with three RBIs, while Hancock went 2-2 with an RBI.
For the E-Gals, Holder and Reice Coomes had the team’s two hits, and Keelan Wettstain drew a walk, while in the circle Holder allowed four earned runs over seven innings.
“I thought Hannah Holder threw really well for us, and it was great to see that. We just need to find some holes when hitting. Defensively, we were pretty solid, but we could still improve on that. I liked our energy and hope we can continue improving.”
The Eagles return to action on Saturday when they travel to Carterville, while the Lady Panthers host Floyd Central tonight at 5:30 p.m.
