Facing the
Panthers for the second straight game, the Tigers fared no
better than in their last encounter. Further, the Tigers
were missing Stami
Luchette for the game due to illness, and Audrey
Hipple's day was truncated by a previous injury, unable to
continue after starting in centerfield. Katie Westmoreland
began on the mound for the Tigers, staying close to the strike
zone, but not within enough to force the bats off the
Panthers' shoulders. After a hit batter and three walks,
she settled in for a pair of strikeouts before two more walks
allowed the Panther their three runs.
Caroline
Kilday's attempt to get the
Tigers going was cut short when she was hit by her own batted
ball as it spun foul into her legs as she ran to first. Allyson Williams walked to start the Tigers with one out, and
was promptly driven in when Katie tripled to the centerfield
fence. The Tigers couldn't further capitalize, as a pop
foul to the catcher and a strikeout ended the inning.
Rutherford Stephens took her turn at
the mound, but again was wild. Two walks opened the
inning, then she struck out leadoff batter Kelsey Royal.
That success was not sustained, with the next batter walked on
four pitches to load the bases, and a walk, hit batter, and
walk pushing across the Panthers three runs. The bottom
half of the Tigers lineup managed a sole walk be Tina
Savic,
quickly retired with a pair of strikeouts and a popup to the
mound, and now found themselves behind 6-1 entering the third
inning.
Katie managed to slow the Panthers
somewhat, hitting what must be the obligatory first batter,
then striking out the next. Two walks loaded the bases
before Katie notched another strikeout. Royal came back
up and steadfastly refused to swing - resulting in a full
count walk and a run. The Panthers number two hitter,
Amberlia Henson did the same, taking six pitches and hoping -
and again drawing the pass. Finally, Kimberly Ferris
went down on strikes. Following the opening hit batter,
Katie struck out three, and walked four, all on full counts,
yet the Panthers offered at just two of her 17 strikes!
The Tigers had the top of their
lineup to open their half of the third, desperate to cut into
the 8-1 deficit. But a ground out to first and a
strikeout left them with two out and no one on base. Katie singled to start things off, and stole to third as
Rutherford walked. After a stolen base by Rutherford,
Brittany Leeper unloaded a double to centerfield, scoring both
runners, and creeping the Tigers back to 8-3.
Open inning came for the Panthers,
and they showed they could hit if they would choose, at least
against their coach. Seven of eight batters hit,
knocking in six runs before Henson popped to Rutherford on the
mound, and Ferris followed with a hit to left. Irene
Tsinajinnie chased down the ball and threw into Ashley Favors
at third, applying the tag to retire the Panthers, but not
before they held a commanding 14-3 lead.
The Tigers went softly in the bottom
of the inning, despite a leadoff single by Tina. A pop
to the pitcher caught the Tigers' baserunner sleeping, retired
on a double play, and a grounder to the mound was relayed to
first, ending the game.
The Tigers now need to win their
final two games, against the Sluggers and Thrashers, to ensure
a third place finish. While those two teams have but
three wins between them this season, the Tigers will have to
regain their hitting touch to finish the season on an up note
heading toward the post-season tournament.
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Recent Results
Saturday, May 5
Panthers v Thrashers
(2:45)
Sluggers v Titans (4:30)
Monday, May 7
Panthers v Tigers (7:45)
Upcoming Games
Tuesday, May 8
Thrashers v
Sluggers (7:45)
Wednesday, May 9
Panthers v
Titans (7:45)
Thursday, May 10
Titans v
Sluggers (7:45)
Saturday, May 12
Tigers v
Sluggers (11:15)
Panthers v Titans (4:30)
Tiger of the Game
Brittany
Leeper continued her hot hitting by drilling a double into center,
driving in two of the Tigers three runs, and picks up Tiger
of the Game for the second time this season.
Next Game
Date: Saturday, May 12
Time: 11:15 AM
Opponent: Sluggers
Drinks: Favors
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