BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Brooke Hunt’s RBI double in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the difference as the Union County High School softball team rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat visiting Bradford 5-4 on April 10.
Emma Handley threw just six pitches in the top of the seventh, as the Tigers (13-6) quickly recorded three outs to end the game, winning for the 10th time in their last 12 games.
Handley, in a complete-game effort, gave up seven hits and struck out three.
Bradford (7-7) got a one-out double from Amber Wynn in the first inning, but she was left stranded as Union third baseman Courtney Manning caught a line drive for the second out and then fielded a ground ball in making the third out.
Wynn made her mark defensive in the bottom of the first, catching three fly balls in center field.
Summer Sutton drew a walk to lead off the Tornadoes’ half of the second. After Tayrn Flowers hit a single into right, Regan Adams popped up to shortstop Mackenzie Orton. The ball was hit deep enough to allow Sutton to tag up and score. Kolee Lemire walked, giving Bradford two on with just one out. Handley then caught a line drive from Kingslee Phillips, which was the start of a double play to get Union out of the inning.
Hunt hit a one-out double for the Tigers in the bottom of the second, followed by a walk drawn by Shyla Crowe. A Mia Kent fly out allowed courtesy runner Autumn Burnette to advance to third. Both base runners then scored on a Jaydin Alvarez double into left, putting Union up 2-1.
The Tornadoes retook the lead in the third. Keegan Yowell walked, while Wynn singled. Addyson Hinds ground out to short to drive in Yowell, while a Sutton single brought Wynn home to make it 3-2.
Bradford was able to keep the inning going. Flowers was hit by a pitch, while Adams singled, loading the bases with two outs. Handley recorded a strikeout to get out of the inning.
Neither team had a hit in the fourth and fifth innings. Handley struck out the first batter she faced in the sixth, but Adams and Kellsie Cochran then hit back-to-back singles for the Tornadoes. After Union left fielder Campbell Webb made a
diving catch to record the second out, Bradford got an RBI single from Yowell, putting the Tornadoes up 4-2. The Tigers’ Orton caught a line drive to record the third out.
Union’s rally in the bottom of the sixth began with the first of three consecutive hits — a single by Leanne Dicks. Manning then hit a double before Orton hit a line-drive single into left that scored both runners and tied it up at 4-4. Yowell caught an infield pop-up for the first out, but Hunt then stepped to the plate and hit her second double of the game, scoring Orton and giving the Tigers a 5-4 lead.
The Tigers had the chance to score more runs. After a Crowe walk and a Kent sacrifice bunt, Alvarez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. A fly ball to Wynn, who recorded her sixth put out, ended the inning.
Orton fielded a ground ball for the first out in the top of the seventh, while right fielder Jailyn Simmons recorded the final two outs.
Hunt, Dicks and Manning all batted 2 for 3 for the Tigers, while the Tornadoes’ Adams also went 2 for 3.
Union entered the game off a 15-0, three-inning loss to visiting Trenton on April 8.
Webb hit a double, which was the Tigers’ only hit against the seventh-ranked team in the Rural Class.
Union, which is ranked 11th in the Rural Class, hosts Bell on Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. and will host Hilliard on Friday, April 18, at 7 p.m. The Tigers then travel to play Lafayette on Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m.
Class 3A Bradford defeated Class 6A Tocoi Creek prior to playing Union, defeating the visiting Toros 4-1 on April 9.
Bailey Smith pitched a complete game, allowing an unearned run and two hits.
The Tornadoes had only three hits, scoring runs on a sacrifice fly by Hinds, an error, a passed ball and a wild pitch.
Bradford travels to play Clay on Monday, April 14, at 7 p.m. and then travels to play Eastside on Tuesday, April 15, at 6:30 p.m.
The Tornadoes play Buchholz in another road game on Monday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. before returning home to play Keystone Heights on Tuesday, April 22, at 6 p.m.
