Apollo wasted no time getting runs on the board and rolled to a 15-0 home victory in four innings over Owensboro in Tuesday’s 9th District softball matchup.
The E-Gals (9-10, 3-1 9th District) racked up 15 hits using a small ball approach, while the Lady Devils (2-14, 0-5) only tallied three of their own.
It’s the second district win in as many nights for Apollo, and head coach Stephen Julian said it was important to stay focused after taking down Owensboro Catholic on Monday.
“The girls came ready to play,” he said. “We talked about not having a letdown tonight after last night’s exciting win. We came out and jumped on the board right away then added on. I thought we played well.”
Apollo got their two leadoff runners on and both scored from third and second base on a sac fly by Abbie Gore. The E-Gals really blew the game open with eight runs in the second inning.
Three straight singles to start the frame put two runs on the board, and they scored another before recording their second out. They used four singles, a double and a walk to add five more runs by the end of the inning.
Owensboro pitcher Brooklyn Keller came in with one out in the bottom of the third and got out of the inning without allowing a run. Apollo came back in the fourth and used five hits to plate five runs.
For Owensboro, head coach Bryan Smith said they weren’t able to capitalize on an early chance to score. With leadoff runners at first and second in the first inning, the Lady Devils recorded three straight outs.
“We didn’t hit the ball well,” he said. “We didn’t execute. We didn’t get the bunt down twice (in the first inning).”
Owensboro also struggled with the inside pitch, and had a few strikeouts looking.
“That’s where we got caught,” Smith said. “We’ve worked on that, so we’ll just have to work on it harder and better and have them pull the plug on that, get their hips open and get those hands through.”
Apollo’s offense was led by Madison Julian (3-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Madison Lowe (3-for-3, 2 runs, RBI, double), Brooke Brown (3-for-4, 2 runs), Abbie Gore (2-for-4, 4 RBIs, run) and Hallie Wilson (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, double).
Keely Eans got the win, giving up one hit in three innings. Emmie Bullington struck out two in an inning of relief.
Aubrie Schueler took the loss in 1.1 innings in the circle, giving up five runs on four hits.
Owensboro only has one district game left on the schedule, a meeting with Daviess County that was rescheduled for May 6 following a rainout.
The E-Gals play the Lady Panthers twice this week. They’ll travel to Daviess County today in a make-up game before returning home for Apollo’s last district game.
OHS 000-0—0-3-1
AHS 280-5—15-15-0
WP: Eans. LP: Schueler. 2B: Lowe, Shemwell, Wilson (A).
