Hannah Hornsby and Kamryn McCool both hit home runs, and McCool threw a shut out in the circle as the Wildcats powered past the Knights by a final score of 3-0. This game was a battle of the two second place teams in the EIAC who looked to try to stay within shouting distance of East Central who remains undefeated in conference play. With the win Franklin County runs their record to 18-3 on the year and 10-2 in EIAC play. The Wildcats also have now won eleven straight games. South Dearborn falls to 13-8 on the year and 9-3 in EIAC play.
The Wildcats got the scoring started early as they struck in the bottom of the first inning. After two ground outs to begin the inning, Kamryn McCool worked a seven-pitch walk to give Franklin County their first base runner of the game. The next at-bat, Hannah Hornsby would drive the 2-2 pitch to straight away center to give the Wildcats the early 2-0 lead.
This would prove to be all the offense the Wildcats would need as Kamryn McCool was fantastic for the team inside the circle. McCool threw a complete game shutout going seven innings allowing four hits and striking out fifteen. With the seven innings pitched, McCool became the Wildcats career leader in innings pitched, surpassing the mark set by Maeleea Hundley of 431 1/3 innings pitched from 2007-2010.
McCool would then add a run herself in the bottom of the third. McCool would take the 1-2 pitch to right-center field and drive a home run over the fence. This would run the Wildcats lead to 3-1. With that home run McCool passed Brooke Otto to become Franklin County’s career leader in RBIs with 105.
Olivia Nagel took the loss for South Dearborn. She surrendered three runs on four hits over four innings, striking out three.
Hornsby, Kloe Bolos, Maggie Wendel, and McCool had the four hits for the Wildcats.
Franklin County will be back in action on Saturday as the Wildcats head to Greenfield for the Greenfield-Central Invitational. The team’s first two games will be held at the Greenfield-Central Junior High School. The Wildcats first game will be at approximately 11 am against Seymour High School. Immediately following that contest, the Wildcats will take on Mt. Vernon High School. Depending on how pool play goes, Franklin County will either play in a consultation game at 3:30 pm or the championship game at 5:30.
Franklin County’s JV stayed in it until the end, but South Dearborn pulled away late in a 10-5 victory on Thursday evening. The game was tied at four with South Dearborn batting in the top of the fourth inning when the wheels fell off for the Wildcats. The Knights would end up scoring seven runs in the inning on five hits with the aid of two Wildcat errors.
In the first inning, South Dearborn got on the board first. Sarah Bare threw a wild pitch allowing two runs across the plate for South Dearborn. Bare would rebound in the inning though and strike out three of the next four hitters to end the inning.
The Wildcats would rebound in the bottom of the first when Morgan Bare led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. Next, Sidney Wilber smacked a single into center field to make it first and second with nobody out. They would both advance a base on a wild pitch and then with one out, Karlie Hahn would lay down a beautiful bunt down the third base line for a single that scored Bare. Wilber would advance to third. Next, Izzy Hoff would loft a fly ball to left field that was just deep enough to score Wilber from third to tie the score at 2-2.
Franklin County would take the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Morgan Bare led off the inning with a walk and then Sidney Wilber smacked a single into center field.
It would’ve made it first and third with no one out, but an errant throw by the Knights allowed Bare to score from third and advanced Wilber to sceond base. The next at-bat, Wilber stole third base and the throw from the catcher was off-line, allowing Wilber to score on the play and make the score 4-3 in favor of the Wildcats.
The next inning would prove to be too much for the Wildcats to overcome. South Dearborn would send 11 hitters to the plate and score seven runs in the fourth inning.
The Knights would take the lead for good when A Lunsford tripled on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs in the inning. After the inning the score was 10-4 and Franklin County would never recover.
Willoughby earned the win for South Dearborn. She lasted two innings, allowing one hit and two runs while striking out three and walking one. Lunsford started the game for South Dearborn. She allowed two hits and two runs over two innings, striking out four and walking zero. M Lewis also threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.
Bare took the loss for Franklin County. She went five innings, allowing ten runs (seven earned) on nine hits and striking out seven.
Franklin County’s JV totaled four hits. Karlie Hahn and Sidney Wilbur each had two hits to lead the team. Morgan Bare also reached base all three times she was up with two walks and one hit by pitch. Bare and Wilber each scored two runs for the Wildcats.
South Dearborn had nine hits in the game. Lunsford, H Rudisell, and J Wessel all had multiple hits for South Dearborn.
Franklin County’s Junior Varsity will be back in action on Monday as the Wildcats travel to Cambridge City to take on the Lincoln Golden Eagles. First pitch is scheduled to immediately follow the varsity game which begins at 5 pm.
Courtesy of Wildcats Coach Alex McCool.