Science Hill too strong for Lady
'Clones
By Wes Holtsclaw
STAR STAFF
wholtsclaw@starhq.com
JOHNSON CITY -- The Elizabethton Lady Cyclones
held their own, but three big offensive innings from the opposition
worked against their favor.
Elizabethton had a hard time adjusting offensively
early in its battle with the Science Hill Lady Hilltoppers,
and the opposition took advantage of some defensive mistakes
en route to a 7-1 victory at the Metro Kiwanis Park.
The Lady Cyclones were victorious later with
a 6-2 junior varsity victory.
Science Hill used some big hits to take an opening
lead in the varsity contest, forcing the Lady Cyclones to
play from behind throughout the game.
Despite the loss, Elizabethton built more experience
for big conference games with the outing against the triple-A
club.
"They hit the ball exceptionally well today and
we made a few errors here and there," said Lady Cyclone coach
Kenny Hardin. "We definitely didn't play our best, but we're
not taking anything away from them because they hit the ball
consistently. They played a good game."
A Kristen Klem triple at the bottom of the first
inning got things rolling for Science Hill. Betina Fisher
followed with an RBI double, later scoring on an error.
Alyssa Shoun and Whitney Hawkins also singled
for the Lady 'Toppers, with Shoun scoring on a Hannah Parker
walk to exit the opening frame with a 3-0 lead.
The Lady Cyclones played solid defense in the
second inning, but Science Hill took advantage of little things
to get back on the scoreboard in the third.
Ashleigh Jackson walked, while Hawkins got her
second single of the game in the third offensive stanza for
the Lady 'Toppers. Jackson stole home after a failed rundown,
while an error in the infield allowed a Hawkins run.
Elizabethton got rolling offensively in the third
with singles from Lana Blevins and Maggie Austin, but the
Lady 'Toppers got ahead with plays in the field to prevent
a Lady Cyclone score.
However, the orange unit made up for it in the
fourth inning after Katie Hubbard opened with a left field
double.
Abby Jenkins stepped up two slots later with
a grounded shot into left field, bringing Hubbard's courtesy
runner across the plate for Elizabethton's lone run of the
game.
The Lady Cyclones played solid defense in the
fourth and fifth innings with a big 9-5-4 double play to get
out of the fifth frame.
But they had a hard time offensively, hitting
into infield plays by Science Hill.
The Lady 'Toppers got on the board again in the
sixth inning, with Meredith and Klem scoring on an RBI single
and sacrifice, respectively, by Fisher and Jackson.
Hawkins took the win on the mound for the Lady
'Toppers with five strikeouts in the complete game. Jessica
Robinson only walked two, and had two strikeouts in five innings
of work to take the loss for Elizabethton.
Kristi Keys wound out the game for Robinson in
the sixth inning.
Said Hardin: "We made some pretty good plays,
but we missed some easy plays. We're young and we'll learn
from it. When you play good teams like this, it only makes
you better."
Klem, Fisher and Hawkins finished with two hits
apiece for Science Hill, while four different Lady Cyclones
grabbed hits.
Elizabethton hosts Sullivan Central this afternoon
at 4:30 p.m..
Junior Varsity Game
Elizabethton 6
Science Hill 2
A pair of two-run doubles from Mary Edgar and
Tia Nave keyed the Lady Cyclones' junior varsity victory over
the Lady Toppers.
Caitlin Kerley also contributed an RBI single
to the Elizabethton cause.
Science Hill was kept together by the solid pitching
of Alyssa Shoun, who had eight strikeouts, but gave up seven
runs on three hits.
Elizabethton's Brittany Smith earned the win
with three strikeouts and only giving up two runs in the second
inning.
Each team had three errors.
