Owensboro couldn’t produce enough offense in a narrow road loss to the Lady Eagles in their season opener on Tuesday, while the Lady Raiders were firing on all cylinders in a short-game victory over McLean County.
Owensboro vs Ohio County
The Lady Devils fell just short in their season opener on Tuesday, losing narrowly to Ohio County 7-6 in front of their home crowd.
The Lady Eagles struck first, taking advantage of a walk, fielder’s choice and then an Owensboro error to score two runs and take a 2-0 lead after the top of the first. They grabbed one more in the top of the fourth, but the Lady Devils were able to bounce back in the bottom of the fourth.
Sophomore Hessi Johnson delivered the first blow, hitting a two-run bomb to center field after a walk and a fielder’s choice. An error and another fielder’s choice followed, with sophomore Ellington Embry scoring to knot things up at 3-3.
Ohio County bounced right back in the top of the fifth though, as a leadoff triple from eighth grader Madyson Crowe was followed up by an RBI double from freshman Kelsey Kirkpatrick and an RBI single from sophomore Hadlee Canty to start the inning. A walk put runners on first and second, before senior K’Asia Palmer was able to get a fly out for the first out of the inning the following at-bat.
An error by Embry cost the Lady Devils a pair of runs the ensuing at-bat though, making it a 7-3 Ohio County lead into the bottom of the fifth. Owensboro was able to get a pair of runs back on a two-run double from Johnson in the bottom half of the inning, while later scoring on a Lady Eagles error.
The Lady Devils were only able to get one more hit the rest of the way though, as sophomore Addyson Graves—who allowed four earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven—helped Ohio County close the door on a 7-6 win.
Palmer tossed all seven innings of her Owensboro softball debut, allowing three earned runs, seven total, while surrendering eight hits and five walks while striking out six. Johnson’s 2-3 day led the way with four RBIs for the Lady Devils, while sophomore Kirsten Tindle chipped in one as well.
Now sitting at 0-1 overall, Owensboro will have a day off before looking to grab their first win of the season at home against Grayson County at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Trinity (Whitesville) vs McLean County
The Lady Raiders offense was clicking on all cylinders on Tuesday, winning their season opener over McLean County 12-2 in five innings at home.
The Lady Cougars got on the board first, scoring on a dropped third strike and an RBI single from senior Amber Willis to take a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the first. Trinity (Whitesville) wasted no time getting going offensively though, quickly loading the bases with a pair of singles and a walk to start the bottom of the first.
After a short fly out to right kept everyone at bay, junior Georgia Howard lined one to center field to knot things up at 2-2. A walk followed, before seventh grader Sophie Hatfield delivered a bases-clearing triple and senior Allie Barnett earned an RBI groundout to give the Lady Raiders a 6-2 lead heading into the second inning.
This would be all that Trinity (Whitesville) needed, as senior Allie Graham held McLean County scoreless the rest of the way to finish with two earned runs surrendered on three hits and two walks while striking out six. Meanwhile the Lady Raiders didn’t slow down on offense either, scoring six more runs over the next three innings to grab a 12-2 short-game victory.
