Telegraph Staff Writer
Leah Clark finished with five RBI, while pitcher Lily Neal threw a two-hit, four-inning shutout in the Union County High School softball team’s 17-0 win at Hawthorne on April 11.
The Tigers (12-2) scored all the runs they’d need in a six-run first inning, which featured a bases-loaded triple by Clark that scored all three runners. Angela Tucker and Campbell Webb hit an RBI single and an RBI double, respectively, while Tucker scored on a steal of home.
Hailey Rivera hit a two-run triple as part of a seven-run second inning, that also featured Clark driving in a run on a sacrifice fly. Hayley Burke and Hannah Rivera each hit a ground ball and reached on an error, driving in a run apiece. An error on a ball hit into the outfield by Webb scored two runs as well.
Clark and Makenzie Radford each drew a bases-loaded walk as part of a four-run fourth. Hailey Rivera hit an RBI single, while Tamia Young scored on a passed ball.
Webb and Hailey Rivera each went 2 for 3, with Rivera driving in three runs and Webb driving in one. Burke, Radford, Tucker and Hannah Rivera each had one RBI.
Neal struck out 10 and gave up no walks.
On April 5, Nyasia Williams drove in two runs in Union’s 3-1 win over visiting Dixie County — a matchup of the top two-ranked teams in Class 1A.
Williams hit a double and scored on Webb’s sacrifice fly to put the number-one Tigers ahead 1-0 in the second. Williams later made the score 3-0 when she hit a two-run homer in the fourth, scoring Hailey Rivera, who walked.
Webb and Williams went 2 for 2 and 2 for 3, respectively.
The Bears’ only run was scored on an error in the fifth inning. Tigers pitcher Megan Sullivan gave up three hits and two walks in a complete game. She struck out seven.
Union dropped its second game of the season on April 8, managing just two hits against pitcher Addison Allaire in an 11-1, five-inning loss to host Trenton.
Trenton took a 3-0 lead in the first, taking advantage of three walks, two errors, a hit batter with the bases loaded and a sacrifice fly.
Union made it 3-1 in the second. The Tigers loaded the bases with two outs as Mackenzie Orton was hit by a pitch, followed by singles by Hannah Rivera and Tucker. Trenton committed an error on a ground ball hit by Young, allowing Orton to score. A strikeout ended the inning.
In all, the Tigers struck out nine time against Allaire.
The Tigers host Hawthorne on Wednesday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. and will travel to play Columbia on Thursday, April 14, at 7 p.m. Union travels to play Dixie County on Tuesday, April 19, at 7 p.m.
