Telegraph Staff Writer
Leah Clark hit the go-ahead run as part of a two-run sixth inning for the Union County High School softball team, which recorded a 6-4 road win over Class 6A Gainesville on April 4.
The Tigers (10-1) scored the final three runs of the game as they bounced back from their first loss.
Run-scoring singles by Clark and Nyasia Williams gave Union a 2-0 lead in the first. It was a 2-2 game going into the third when the Tigers got a run-scoring double from Hailey Rivera. The Hurricanes, though, scored two in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 lead.
Union took the lead for good when Hannah Rivera, Angela Tucker and Tamia Young all singled with two outs, with Young’s hit scoring Rivera.
Hannah Rivera led off the top of the sixth with a single. After a ground out, Young reached on an error. Rivera scored on a single by Clark, making the score 5-4. Hailey Rivera singled to load the bases. Williams ground into a fielder’s choice, with Young put out at home on the force play. With the bases still loaded, Hayley Burke drew a walk to force in the game’s final run.
Clark went 2 for 3 with two RBI, while Young and Hannah Rivera each went 3 for 4, with Young hitting a double and driving in a run. Williams and Hailey Rivera each had one RBI, with Rivera going 2 for 4.
Megan Sullivan earned the win, giving up two runs on two hits in 5.1 innings. She struck out five.
Union entered the game off a 4-1 road loss to Fort White on April 1.
Fort White scored all of its runs in the third inning, taking advantage of three singles, a double and a walk.
The Tigers struggled against pitcher Kadence Compton, who gave up four hits and struck out 14. Compton also recorded 14 strikeouts in the Feb. 22 meeting between the teams, which Union won 2-1.
Union scored its run in the sixth. Williams walked and advanced on a Burke single and a McKenzie Clemons sacrifice before scoring on a passed ball.
Lily Neal pitched three innings of scoreless relief, giving up one hit.
The Tigers host Dixie County on Tuesday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m. and will travel to play Trenton on Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m. Union then plays Hawthorne twice, traveling for a game on Monday April 11, at 6 p.m. and then hosting the Hornets on Wednesday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m.
