By Jonathan Schwab
Plagued by eight errors, the Parry McCluer High School softball team suffered a 22-6 road loss in five innings to Buffalo Gap in nondistrict action on Thursday in Swoope.
In their only game of the week, the Fighting Blues (2-6) recorded just four hits, while Buffalo Gap (6-3) racked up 18 hits and committed just one error.
The Bison wasted no time, scoring five runs in the first inning and adding seven more in the second to jump out to a 12-0 lead.
The first inning included a three-run home run by BG’s Elissa Caricofe, and the Bison scored their other two runs on a sacrifice fly and then a double to left field by Cadence Spradlin.
In the second, the Bison scored two runs on PM errors and the others on a single, a double and two groundouts.
The Blues scored all of their runs in the third inning. PM loaded the bases on two walks and a BG error in the top of the third and then scored when Patience Hill was hit by a pitch, bringing home Remi Hickman. Natalie Mohler then scored on a groundout by Olivia Julian, and Kendall Painter tripled to right field to drive in Hill, Julian and Logan Vest. The Blues scored their final run when Painter ran home on a wild pitch, cutting the Bison’s lead to 12-6.
After BG pitcher Rachel Showalter threw three strikeouts, the Bison’s batters answered back, erupting for eight runs in the bottom of the third, one on an error and the other seven on hits, including a three-run homer by Bailey Tribble that extended BG’s lead to 20-6.
BG scored its final two runs in the bottom of the fourth, on a sacrifice fly to right field by Showalter and then a double on a grounder to left field by Spradlin. The game ended after the top of the fifth due to the 10run mercy rule.
Spradlin led the Bison with four hits and had three RBIs, Tribble recorded three hits and three RBIs, and Caricofe had two hits and a team-high five RBIs. Caricofe was one of four Bison with two hits each.
Painter led the Blues with three hits and three RBIs, while Vest had one hit and walked twice.
The Bison used three pitchers who combined to throw 10 strikeouts while allowing four hits, four walks and six runs – five of which were earned.
On the mound for the Blues, Julian pitched the first two innings, striking out one while surrendering nine hits, one walk and 12 runs (four earned). In the third, Alysa Wheeler allowed six hits, one walk and eight runs (seven earned). Painter pitched in the fourth, surrendering three hits, no walks and two earned runs.
PM was scheduled to play at Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy on Monday. The Blues, who are 1-1 in the Pioneer District, will attempt to sweep the regular-season series with Narrows when they play host on Thursday at 5 p.m. in Buena Vista. When the Blues traveled to Narrows on April 3, they won 18-2. The Blues will continue district action at home against Eastern Montgomery on Tuesday at 5 p.m. before playing a nondistrict game at Nelson County next Wednesday, April 30, at 7 p.m.
