BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
An error finally put an end to it, allowing two runs to score in the bottom of the ninth as the Union County High School softball team walked off the field with a 17-16 win over visiting Santa Fe on April 4.
Leah Clark drove in two runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend the game and allow the Tigers (3-7) to eventually come out on top.
When it was all said and done, the teams combined for 38 hits, including eight extra-base hits (two home runs, one triple and five doubles) by Santa Fe.
The Class 3A Raiders, however, also committed nine errors.
Union trailed 4-1 before scoring six runs in the fourth. The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs, with Hailey Rivera reaching on an error and Shyla Crowe and Maggie Thomas each hitting a single. Rivera scored when Hannah Rivera ground into a fielder’s choice. Tamia Young hit a ground ball that Santa Fe committed an error on, allowing Crowe to score. Angela Tucker drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI single by Clark. Hayley Burke drove in a run on a sacrifice bunt, while Leigh Ann Dicks’ single drove in the inning’s final run, putting the Tigers up 7-4.
Santa Fe scored four runs in the fifth to take a one-run lead, but Union went back on top with a two-run sixth inning. Hailey Rivera hit a triple that scored Burke, who reached on an error, and Dicks, who reached on a single.
In the top of the seventh, the Raiders hit back-to-back doubles, followed by back-to-back singles to score three runs and take an 11-9 lead. The Tigers answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Hannah Rivera hit a leadoff double, followed by a one-out single by Tucker. Both scored on a Clark single to even it up and force extra innings.
Santa Fe scored five runs in the top of the ninth, including three on two errors. The Raiders also took advantage of four singles, a double and a walk.
The Tigers had two outs with nobody on in the bottom of the inning. Clark hit a single and stole second and third. After Burke drew a walk, Campbell Webb hit a two-run double. Hailey Rivera hit an RBI single. Crowe reached on an error before Mackenzie Orton hit an RBI single, making the score 16-15. The Raiders then committed an error on a ground ball hit by Hannah Rivera, allowing the tying and winning runs to score.
Clark and Hailey Rivera each finished with three RBI. Clark went 4 for 6, while Rivera went 2 for 6.
Webb drove in two runs, while Burke, Dicks, Orton, Tucker, Young and Hannah Rivera each had one RBI. Orton went 2 for 4, while Dicks and Tucker each went 2 for 5.
