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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