BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Union County High School’s softball team traveled to play Branford (last year’s Class 1A state runner-up) on Feb. 21, losing 12-2 in five innings.
Courtney Manning hit a two-out single and scored on an error in the top of the first. The Class 1A Tigers (1-2) held that 1-0 lead until the second, when Branford scored four runs off two singles, two walks, a sacrifice fly and an error.
By the time Union scored again (in the fifth), the Buccaneers had 10 runs on the board.
The Tigers finished with just four hits against Branford pitcher Laila Arnold, who struck out six and walked none.
Union opened the season with a 7-1 loss to host Hilliard on Feb. 17. Manning and Mackenzie Orton each went 2 for 3, with Manning hitting a double.
Shyla Crowe drove in the lone run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
The Tigers earned a win on Feb. 18, with Campbell Webb driving in two runs in a 5-3 win over visiting Bronson.
Bronson led 3-1 before Union scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers loaded the bases, with Crowe and Brooke Hunt walking and Webb getting hit by a pitch. Jailyn Simmons, who entered to run for Crowe, scored on a passed ball. Jaydin Alvarez reached on an error, which allowed a run to score. Emma Handley then hit a sacrifice fly that put the Tigers ahead 4-3.
Webb, who went 2 for 2, drove in the final run with a fifth-inning double.
Crowe pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and no walks. She had nine strikeouts.
Union hosts Lafayette on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. and will travel to play Trenton on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. The Tigers continue the string of road games, playing at Bell on Friday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. and at North Marion on Tuesday, March 4, at 7 p.m.
