Mustangs Erupt For 12 Runs In Second Inning
Facing a fierce offense that produced 20 hits, the Parry Mc-Cluer High School softball team suffered a 21-3 road loss in five innings to Pioneer District rival Eastern Montgomery on Tuesday of last week.
The Mustangs (3-5 overall, 2-0 district), who beat the Fighting Blues (2-5, 1-1) for the district title last year, had a 12-run second inning in last week’s game. The Blues scored early, but it wasn’t enough, and they were held to seven hits.
PM took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Logan Vest doubled, advanced to third on an EM error, and scored when Olivia Julian hit a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Mustangs responded with four runs in the bottom of the first, one on a single and the other three on two doubles.
After preventing the Blues from getting a hit in the top of the second, the Mustangs took control in the bottom of the inning. They scored two runs on singles before adding another run on a PM error. Later in the inning. The Blues committed three errors, resulting in two runs, and the Mustangs hurt the Blues even more when Macie Akers hit a grand slam to left field for four more runs.
PM’s final two runs came in the third, with Vest scoring on an error and Kendall Painter scoring when Jordyn Hostetter doubled on a line drive to right field to cut EM’s lead to 16-3. That was all the Mustangs would allow, though, and EM added another run in the third and four more in the fourth.
Akers led EM with four hits and six RBIs, while Rena Chandler, Chelsie Kennedy and Madison Hall each added three hits.
Vest paced PM with two hits. Adding one hit each for the Blues were Hostetter, Painter, Harleigh Fulwider, Sophie Chittum and Kinleigh Wallace.
On the mound, Mary Miller pitched a complete game to earn the win for the Mustangs, striking out eight while allowing seven hits, no walks and three unearned runs.
Painter pitched into the second inning for PM, surrendering 10 hits, two walks and 13 runs (11 earned). In the final three innings, Alysa Wheeler struck out two while allowing 10 hits, two walks and eight runs (six earned).
The Mustangs overcame six errors, while PM committed five errors.
The Blues were scheduled to play host to district foe Craig County last Thursday, but that game was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for Friday, May 16.
PM’s next two contests will be nondistrict road games, at Buffalo Gap on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and at Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy on Monday at 5 p.m.. The Blues will return to district action at home against Narrows on Thursday, April 24, at 5 p.m.
