In their best effort of the season, Franklin County led most of the game before East Central stole the game in the bottom of the seventh inning to get the win by a final score of 6-5. The Wildcats showed very good poise and discipline at the plate and a season high 20 quality at-bats (3 pitches after 2 strikes, 6+ pitch at bats, extra base hits, hit by pitch, walks, sac bunts, or sac flys). The pitching of the Wildcats was also spectacular with Michaela Ferman doing a great job of keeping the high powered East Central offense in check for most of the game. The one area the Wildcats could still improve on is on defense as they continued to make errors on plays that should be made.
Franklin County gained the lead in the top of the second inning when Makaylee Woods started off the inning with a walk. She would then advance to second on a ground ball to first, but the out would be the second out of the inning. The next batter, Laura Hildebrand would draw a walk, before Karlie Hahn would bloop a single into shallow right field to score Woods from second and allow Hildebrand to advance to third. Abby Orschell would get a single of her own to drive in Hildebrand and give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.
The pitchers would dominate the next few innings until the fifth when Franklin County would score again to add to their lead. Morgan Bare would draw a 1 out walk to get the first base runner of the inning for the Wildcats. Next, Camryn Brewer would drive a double into deep left to advance Bare to third. Ferman would draw a walk to load the bases. Then Bolos would score the run in the inning for the Wildcats as she grounded out to second making it 3-1 in favor of Franklin County.
The Wildcats would add more insurance in the top of the sixth and seventh when they would add one run each inning. East Central would add two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and then they would win it in the bottom of the seventh inning when a miscue by the Wildcat defense allowed two East Central runs to come in with two outs, giving them the 6-5 victory.
Ferman’s pitching line in the game was 6 2/3 innings pitched, she scattered 10 hits, with 2 walks, 6 runs (4 Earned), and recorded 7 strikeouts.
Offensive Leaders
Abby Orschell: 2-3 (Single, Double); 2 RBIs; 1 Walk
Laura Hildebrand: 1-2 (Double); 2 Runs Scored; 1 Walk
Camryn Brewer: 1-4 (Double)
Karlie Hahn: 1-3 (Single); 1 RBI
Makaylee Woods: 1-2 (Double); 1 RBI; 1 Run Scored; 2 Walks
Michaela Ferman: 1-2 (Double); 1 Walk
Franklin County will be back in action on Thursday evening when they head to Greensburg to take on the Pirates. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 pm.
In a game that was primarily a pitcher’s duel, East Central was able to break it open in their final at bat, by putting up 5 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to give them the 7-1 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish in the Wildcats final at bat. Both pitchers threw well for most of the game for both teams, but the Wildcats had a few errors that hurt them in this one, and the Wildcats didn’t get a lot of consistent hits like they had for most of the season.
Bree Bischoff threw for the Wildcats, going four innings, allowing 3 hits, 6 walks, 7 runs (5 earned), and recorded 8 strikeouts.
Offensive Leaders
Hadlee Hornsby: 1-3 (Single)
Shaden Galyen: 1-2 (Single)
Sarah Bare: 1-2 (Single)
Gracie Singer: 1-1 (Single); 1 RBI
Anne Becker: 1-2 (Single); 1 Run Scored
The Wildcats will be back in action on Thursday when they head to Greensburg to take on the Pirates. First pitch is scheduled to follow the varsity contest.
Courtesy of Wildcats Coach Alex McCool.