The Lady Pirate softball team finished the seaon undefeated (9-0) at home Monday as they squeaked out a 4-3 victory over the visting Columbus Grove Bulldogs.
Senior Shannon McKamey secured the narrow win for the Pirates as she blasted the game winning RBI double to score pinch runner Kylee Barnett in the bottom of the seventh.
The Pirates jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Adrian Rumer let loose with an RBI single scoring Ashlin Gable in the bottom of the first.
The Pirates chalked up one hit in the second on a bunt by Katie Palte. Palte stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball but was unable to score as the Bulldogs struck out Lexi Luginbihl and Sierra Amstutz was thrown out at first.
The Bulldogs couldn't catch a break early in the game as Pirate pitcher, Kayla Longworth, and the defense combined to retire the first 8 batters. Grove tallied a base hit in the third from their 9th batter, but Adrian Rumer was on her toes as she caught a line drive at third and turned the double play to Ashlin Gable at first ending the inning.
Gable collected the only Pirate hit in the third inning to lock the score at 1-0.
The Bulldogs contined to battle in the fourth, with Heckel blasting a triple with one out. The Pirate defense held tight as Gable tagged out the next batter at first to hold the runner at third and McKamey caught a fly to center field, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless.
Grove scored in the top of the fifth on an error to tie the score at 1-1. The Pirates answered right back with Sierra Amstutz reaching first base on an error followed by a single from McKamey. Gable then blasted a single driving in pinch runner Barnett to put the Pirates up 2-1 after 5 innings.
Rumer and Mariah Welch singled in the bottom of the sixth, with Rumer scoring to push the score to 3-1.
The Bulldogs battled back in the seventh quickly loading the bases on a single and two walks. Palte secured the first out catching a fly ball at short. The next hit escaped the infield and scored a run for the Bulldogs. Palte fielded the next hit and threw for the force out at home, but catcher Molly Lengyel was unable to secure the ball as Grove scored the tying run.
Lengyel redeemed herself on the next hit getting the force out at home on the play from Gable. Palte threw out the next batter at first ending the inning for the Bulldogs with the score 3-3.
Kayla Longworth led off the seventh inning for the ladies with a base hit and McKamey brought the pinch runner around the bases with her game winning double.
The Pirates improve to 11-6 overall and 6-2 in the NWC. Bluffton faces Allen East on May 11 for the final NWC game of the year.
The Pirates enter tournament play Thursday with a game against Leipsic at Pandora-Gilboa. The Pirates beat Leipsic 11-1 in the regular season.
Kayla Longworth- winning pitcher- 10-5- 4 K's, 5 walks
Top Hitters:
Shannon McKamey: 2/4, 1-2B, 1 RBI
Ashlin Gable: 2/2, 1 RBI
Adrian Rumer: 2/3, 1 RBI
Defense:
Brianna Laing: 3 put-outs
Ashlin Gable: 6 put-outs, 2 assists
Katie Palte: 1 put-out, 3 assists
Adrian Rumer: 3 put-outs, 2 assists
Mariah Welch: 1 put-out, 1 Assist
