BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Five batters drove in two runs or more as the Union County High School softball team earned its second straight run-rule victory, defeating visiting P.K. Yonge 14-3 in four innings.
The Tigers (8-4) scored the game’s first seven runs, starting with a three-run first. Shyla Crowe drove in a run when she hit into a fielder’s choice, while Courtney Manning scored on an error. Brooke Hunt drove in the inning’s final run on a single.
In a four-run second, Union loaded the bases. Mia Kent reached on an error before Jaydin Alvarez singled. Mackenzie Orton then walked before Manning drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Crowe and Campbell Webb followed with back-to-back doubles, with Crowe’s hit driving in two runs and Webb’s hit driving in one.
Union pushed another four runs across in the third. Kent and Alvarez hit back-to-back singles before Emma Handley walked. Orton drove in a run when she hit into a fielder’s choice. Manning then drove in a run on a single, while Webb drove in two on a single of her own.
Handley hit a two-run triple as part of a three-run fourth, which also included an RBY by Orton on a sacrifice fly.
Crowe and Webb each had three RBI, with Webb batting 2 for 3.
Handley, Manning and Orton each finished with two RBI, while Hunt had one.
Alvarez batted 3 for 3, while Kent went 2 for 3.
Starting pitcher Handley gave up three runs and two hits through four innings. She struck out nine.
Alvarez pitched the final inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.
The Tigers entered the game off a 15-3, five-inning win over visiting North Marion on March 11 in which Alvarez and Crowe each had three RBI.
Crowe pitched a complete game, giving up three runs (two earned) and four hits.
Union trailed 2-0 before scoring eight runs in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Leanne Dicks hit a fly ball that North Marion committed an error on, allowing a run to score. Kent drove in a run on a ground out, while Alvarez hit a two-run double. Manning later drew a bases-loaded walk to force a run in before the Tigers got one RBI each from Crowe, Webb and Hunt.
A six-run fourth put the Tigers up 15-2. Alvarez and Manning each hit an RBI single, while Crowe and Hunt each drew a bases-loaded walk. Webb was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, while another run was the result of an error.
Alvarez finished 2 for 3, while Union got two RBI each from Hunt, Manning and Webb. Kent had one RBI.
The Tigers play at Bradford on Friday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m. and then host Branford on Monday, March 17, at 7 p.m. Union hosts Dixie County on Tuesday, March 18, at 6 p.m.
