BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Leah Clark hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as the Union County High School softball team’s rally fell short in a 6-5 loss to visiting Williston on April 25.
Williston’s Raegan Geiger hit a two-run homer to help the Red Devils take a 3-0 lead in the first.
The Tigers (14-4) made it a one-run game in the third. Hannah Rivera and Tamia Young led the inning off with back-to-back singles. One out later, Hailey Rivera singled to load the bases. Hannah Rivera scored when Nyasia Williams ground into a fielder’s choice. Clark then hit a single that scored Young, making the score 3-2.
Williston scored three runs in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of two singles, a double and an error.
Hannah Rivera led off the bottom of the inning with a double. After the first out, Angela Tucker hit a single. Hailey Rivera ground into a fielder’s choice, which resulted in Hannah Rivera being put out at third. Williams hit a single that scored Tucker before Clark delivered her triple that made it a one-run game. A line out to shortstop Karley Jerrels ended the game.
Clark went 3 for 4, while Hannah Rivera was 2 for 3. Tucker, Williams and Young each went 2 for 4.
It was the second loss in three games for Class 1A’s top-ranked team. On April 19, Union’s Megan Sullivan and Dixie County’s Bria Hinkle battled in the circle, combining to give up seven hits, but it was the Bears who came out on top in the pitching duel, defeating the Tigers 2-0 in Cross City.
Dixie scored its two runs in the fifth, hitting back-to-back two-out doubles after a runner reached on an error.
Sullivan gave up four hits and no walks, striking out five.
The Tigers’ bats made more noise in their next outing, which saw Clark and Hailey Rivera driving in three and two runs, respectively, in a 10-2 win over visiting Bell.
It was a 2-2 game until Union scored five runs in the fourth. Clark drove in two of those runs on a single.
Clark and Tucker each went 2 for 4, while Hayley Burke and Hannah Rivera each had one RBI.
Sullivan pitched a complete game, giving up four hits, while striking out five.
The Tigers host Columbia on Tuesday, April 26, at 7 p.m. and will cap the regular season by hosting Gainesville on Thursday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m.
