The Wildcats were able to overcome a difficult day offensively and were able to push across some runs late to defeat Richmond on the road by a final score of 6-4. Franklin County hit the ball more consistently in this game than the previous game against Centerville, but the softballs could just not find the holes in the defense to give the Wildcats a lot of base runners. Franklin County got good pitching from their starter, Camryn Brewer, and was able to manufacture runs to defeat the Red Devils.
In the first inning Richmond was able to score three runs as the Wildcats looked a little groggy getting off of the bus. Two walks, compounded with an error on a double play ball allowed the Red Devils to load the bases with no outs. Then singles later on in the inning by Laughlin-Foster and Bowery allowed the Red Devils to take an early 3-0 lead.
From that point forward, Camryn Brewer would dominate in the circle for the Wildcats. She would pitch and complete game keeping the Richmond hitters off-balance with a steady array of off-speed pitches and fast balls. The only other run Brewer would give up would be later on in the seventh inning.
In the top of the third inning, the Wildcats were able to manufacture some runs with no hits in the inning. Sarah Bare led off the inning for the Wildcats with a four-pitch walk. Then after Morgan Bare fell behind in the count 2-0, she was hit by a pitch to give the Wildcats runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. Then back-to-back grounders to second base by Abby Orschell and Makaylee Woods would score both runners and bring the Wildcats within one run of the Red Devils.
The Wildcats would take the lead in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Morgan Bare would again fall behind in the count and with a 1-2 count she would be hit by another pitch. Abby Orschell then a hard grounder to second which was misplayed and allowed her to reach first, then continue to second on a bad throw and allow Bare to advance to third. Makaylee Woods would then bunt into a fielder’s choice where the Red Devils made a bad throw to first allowing Woods to reach first and Bare to score on the play. Orschell would advance to third. Orschell would then score on a ground ball to third base off of the bat of Camryn Brewer with a nice slide into the plate to give the Wildcats a 4-3 lead.
Franklin County would add more insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings which would prove to be crucial later on. The Wildcats would add their run in the sixth, scored by Karlie Hahn when she scored on a bad throw back to the pitcher after reaching base via a walk.
In the top of the seventh, the Wildcats would add their final run. Camryn Brewer would double down the left field line with one out to give Franklin County a runner in scoring position. The next play, she would advance to third on a ground out to short, but when the throw came across the diamond to try and get Brewer out, it would ricochet off her leg on the slide and go into left field, allowing her to score to Wildcats final run of the game.
Richmond would make things interesting in the seventh. A lead off single by A. Brewer looked like it would be for nothing as Camryn Brewer retired the next two hitters to take Richmond down to their final out. But then the Wildcats made back to back errors which allowed the Red Devils to score another run and bring the winning run to the plate. Camryn Brewer would then induce a pop fly to Makaylee Woods to end the game.
Camryn Brewer got the win for the Wildcats in the circle. She went all seven innings, giving up five hits, four runs (one earned), walked four and struck out one. Laurelai DePew took the loss for the Red Devils.
Wildcats offense was led by Camryn Brewer who had a double and an RBI for the Wildcats. Michaela Ferman and Sarah Bare each drew two walks, and Morgan Bare was hit by a pitch twice and scored two runs.
Franklin County (2-1) will be back in action Friday evening at home when the Knights from Northeastern High School visit Brookville. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30pm.