BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Union County High School’s softball team scored nine runs in the fifth inning as the Tigers concluded the regular season with a 12-2, five-inning win at Bell on April 25.
Tamia Young and Hannah Rivera each drove in a run for the Tigers (5-13) in the top of the first. Union extended its lead to 3-0 when Angela Tucker hit an RBI double in the third.
It was 3-2 before the Tigers’ big fifth inning, which began with a leadoff walk drawn by Young. Tucker and Rivera hit back-to-back singles, with Rivera’s hit scoring Young. After a walk by Leigh Ann Dicks, Hayley Burke drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Campbell Webb hit an RBI single, followed by Mackenzie Orton driving in a run on a sac fly for a 7-2 lead.
The inning continued, with Hailey Rivera and Leah Clark hitting back-to-back singles. Rivera’s hit scored a run. After Young was hit by a pitch, Tucker reached on an error that allowed two runs to score. Young scored on a steal of home before Bell committed another error, which allowed the final run to score.
Hannah Rivera went 2 for 4 with two RBI, while Tucker and Hailey Rivera each went 2 for 3 with one RBI.
Lily Neal pitched a complete game, giving up one earned run and two hits, while striking out six.
