BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Amber Wagner hit a bases-loaded triple as part of a six-run second inning, which helped propel the Keystone Heights High School softball team to a 12-4 win over visiting Bradford on March 25.
Wagner, who went 2 for 4, drove in four runs in all as the Indians (5-3) snapped a two-game losing streak.
Keegan Yowell, who went 3 for 4, drove in all of Bradford’s runs, including two off a home run in the fifth.
Walks to Caitlin Frampton and Riley Shuford and a single by Alaina Kinsall loaded the bases for Keystone in the second. Wagner, who drove in her team’s first run on a bunt in the first, was facing a 1-2 count when she hit a pitch into center field to clear the bases and put the Indians up 4-0.
Keystone added three more runs with two outs, getting an RBI double from Abbie Roach and RBI singles from Kadence Massey and Frampton.
The Tornadoes (3-9) got their first hit in the third inning, courtesy of a Carly Beggs double. Rylie Blankenship followed with a bunt single. Beggs was put out at third on a ground ball hit by Tinsley Higginbotham, leaving Bradford with runners on first and second with two outs. Yowell ripped a line drive into center field for a double that scored both runners and made it a 7-2 game.
Roach, who went 4 for 4 with an RBI, hit a one-out double in the fourth and scored when the Tornadoes committed an error on a Massey bunt. Massey would later score on a Bella Cumbo single, giving the Indians a 9-2 lead.
Beggs was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the fifth. Two outs later, Yowell drove a pitch over the fence in left to make it a five-run game.
Keystone added its final runs in the sixth, which began with Roach hitting her third double. As in the fourth inning, Massey laid down a bunt, with Bradford again committing an error on the play, which allowed Roach to score and Massey to reach safely. Bradford then
committed errors on the next two plays — a Delia Johnson fly ball and a Frampton single — that allowed the final two runs to score.
Frampton finished 2 for 3.
Ashley Nugent started in the circle for the Indians, giving up two runs, three hits and no walks in three innings.
Frampton entered to finish it off, allowing two runs, three hits and two walks in four innings. She struck out seven.
Bradford’s only batter with multiple hits besides Yowell was Beggs, who went 2 for 2.
Keystone travels to play Oakleaf on Tuesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. and will travel to play Baker County on Thursday, March 28, at 7 p.m.
The Tornadoes travel to play Union County on Monday, April 1, at 6:30 p.m. and then travel to play Hilliard on Wednesday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Keystone entered the Bradford game off an 8-7 loss to host Santa Fe on March 21.
The Indians trailed 5-0 before scoring three runs in the fifth. Kinsall drove in one with a double, while an error allowed two to score.
Keystone took a 7-5 lead in the sixth, scoring four runs with two outs. Kinsall and Wagner drew walks and scored on a Nugent single. After a Roach single and a Massey walk, two runs scored on a Johnson single.
Santa Fe had a runner reach on an error in the sixth and score on a single, making it a one-run game.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Raiders had two on after a triple and a fielder’s choice. A sacrifice fly and subsequent error allowed the tying and winning runs to score.
Nugent was the only Keystone batter with multiple hits, going 3 for 4.
