BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Hailey Rivera and Tamia Young each drove in three runs, which was more than enough for pitcher Megan Sullivan to work with in the Union County High School softball team’s 16-1, four-inning win over fourth-seed Bradford in the semifinals of the District 5-1A tournament on May 3 in Hilliard.
The top-seed Tigers (17-4) play either second-seed Madison County or third-seed and tournament host Hilliard for the championship and an automatic berth in the regional playoffs on Thursday, May 5, at 6 p.m.
Sullivan earned the win for Union, giving up just one hit and two walks. She struck out seven.
It was only a two-run game when Bradford (15-7) scored a run in the top of the third. Makayla Moore walked, followed by Rylie Blankenship reaching on an error. Moore scored on a Hannah McFarland single to make it 3-1.
That’s how the score remained until the Tigers scored 13 runs in the bottom of the fourth to enforce the mercy rule. McKenzie Clemons scored on a wild pitch, while Hayey Burke and Campbell Webb, in consecutive at-bats, were hit by pitches with the bases loaded to make the score 6-1.
After the inning’s first out, Young hit a two-run double. Angela Tucker drove in a run with a single, while Young scored on an error. Rivera hit a sacrifice fly to score a run before Nyasia Williams hit a two-run homer over the fence in left to put the Tigers up 13-1.
Union added runs on singles by MacKenzie Orton and Tucker and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Young.
Rivera and Leah Clark each went 2 for 2 for the Tigers, while Young was 1 for 1.
Tucker and Williams each finished with two RBI, with Tucker going 2 for 4.
Union’s Burke, Orton and Webb each had one RBI.
It was yet another strong performance by Sullivan, who earned shutout wins in the Tigers’ final two regular-season games.
On April 26, Sullivan gave up two hits and struck out seven through 6.2 innings in a 4-0 win over visiting Columbia.
Clark hit a two-run homer with two outs in the third. The long ball scored Tucker, who reached on an error.
Clark finished with the two RBI, while Tucker and Clemons each had one. Clemons, who hit two doubles, went 2 for 3, while Tucker went 2 for 4 with a triple.
Young also hit a triple, going 2 for 4.
Pitcher Lily Neal faced the final two batters, giving up one hit.
Union concluded the regular season with a 3-0 win over visiting Gainesville on April 28, with Sullivan giving up four hits.
Williams gave the Tigers the only run they’d need, hitting a one-out home run in the fourth inning.
Union added two more runs in the fifth on a Rivera single.
Williams and Tucker each went 2 for 3.
