Rallying from an early 5-0 deficit, the Parry McCluer High School softball team earned its first win of the season by defeating Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy on Tuesday evening in Buena Vista.
The Ospreys (1-1) jumped on the Fighting Blues (1-3) in the first inning, sparked by a two-run triple by Paige Nichols and a two-run homer by Abby Hogan. Jules Maddox then scored on a groundout to give SMLCA a 5-0 lead.
The Blues answered back in the bottom of the first when Kendall Painter hit an inside-the-park home run to right field, driving in Patience Hill and Olivia Julian to cut the Ospreys’ lead to 5-3.
SMLCA scored two runs in the second, on hits by Nichols and Hogan, to extend its lead to 7-3. The Ospreys added another run in the third when Chelsea Kerr scored on a groundout. In the bottom of the third, PM cut the lead to 8-4 when Painter ran home on a wild pitch.
The Blues had their big inning in the fifth, erupting for six runs. After PM loaded the bases, Alysa Wheeler doubled on a fly ball to center field to drive in Painter and Olivia Julian. Natalie Mohler then singled on a fly ball to center field to bring home Julian, Wheeler and Mohler both scored when Logan Vest singled on a fly ball to right field, giving PM a 9-8 lead. The Blues scored the final run of the game when Hill doubled to center field, driving in Vest.
In the final two innings, the Blues allowed just one hit.
Painter led PM with three hits, while Julian and Sophie Chittum each had two hits. Nichols and Kerr paced SMLCA with two hits each.
On the mound for the Blues, Julian pitched a complete game, striking out seven while allowing nine hits, four walks and eight runs.
Pitching a complete game for the Ospreys was Claire Hayden, striking out four while surrendering 12 hits, three walks and 10 runs.
The Blues will begin Pioneer District action on Thursday when they play at Narrows at 5 p.m. On Saturday, they’ll make the short trip to Lexington to take on local rival Rockbridge County at 1 p.m.
For full coverage of this week’s action, please see our April 9 newspaper.
