Apollo’s title defense ended early, as they struggled to find momentum against a surging Muhlenberg County in Tuesday’s 13-5 loss in the 3rd Region softball tournament semifinal at Vastwood Park.
The Lady Mustangs (15-22) attacked from the opening pitch, and they capitalized throughout the night on defensive miscues by the E-Gals (16-14). Apollo outhit Muhlenberg County 12-10, but five errors by the E-Gals led to nine unearned runs.
“We didn’t play very well,” said Apollo head coach Stephen Julian. “When you give up nine unearned runs you don’t deserve to win. They were the better team tonight.”
Apollo also couldn’t piece together an extended rally despite getting runners on base often. They scored a single run in five separate innings, two of which were necessary to avoid being run-ruled.
Hallie Wilson hit a solo homer — her third home run of the year — in the bottom of the seventh.
The first inning proved indicative of how the rest of the game unfolded. A pair of errors helped Muhlenberg County take a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the frame. Apollo then led off their half with back-to-back hits and eventually loaded the bases with one out, but all they could manage was a single run.
“We had some runners on where we could have capitalized but didn’t,” Julian said. “The first inning kind of set the tone. Our girls didn’t play as well as what they’re capable of. That’s how it goes sometimes, it’s just a bad time for it to happen.”
The Lady Mustangs blew the game open with an eight-run fifth inning for a 13-2 lead, starting with a two-run homer. Another run scored on a groundout for the second out, but they went on to add six more thanks to two more errors and a hit.
Madison Shemwell and Hallie Wilson each went 3-for-3 and scored twice for Apollo. Shemwell doubled twice, while Wilson had one double and drove in a run. Brooke Brown was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Muhlenberg County head coach Autumn Wilkins said it took every player to put together the performance.
“All I’ve asked from them is to show up and play ball and they’ve done that,” Wilkins said. “There’s not one person I can pull out of there and say they did an outstanding job. They worked together as a team.”
The Lady Mustangs, who had lost six in a row before the region tournament, upset Meade County in the first round before upending Apollo. They now advance to Wednesday’s championship at 7 p.m. against Daviess County, who held off Hancock County 9-5 on Tuesday.
MCHS 301-08100—13-10-3
AHS 100-111-1—5-12-5
WP: Rose. LP: Julian. 2B: Gossett, Davis (MC), Julian, Shemwell 2, Wilson (A). HR: Brewer, Rose (MC), Lyons (A).
