Huntingdon sends Lady Bucs to second straight loss, 12-6
By Jeff Keeling
7:35 p.m. Their bats were more active than the day before, but the University High Lady Bucs softball team gave up double figures in runs again Wednesday, falling to Huntingdon in an elimination game in the Class A state tournament.
Barrett Wherry robs a Huntingdon player of a home run Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Mike Higginbotham)
The Lady Bucs took an early lead, as they did against Forrest in Tuesday’s 12-3 loss, but again a combination of Huntingdon hits and some errors put the team in a hole out of which they could not climb. Starting pitcher Tanner Horton allowed nine hits in five innings, but only one of the 10 runs she surrendered was earned thanks to five Lady Buc errors.
After scoring in the second, the team gave up a four-spot in the top of the third. The Lady Bucs responded with a run in the bottom of the frame, but Huntingdon, which advanced in the losers’ bracket, scored an additional three runs in the top of the fourth.
UH scored another run in the bottom half to make it 7-3 after four, but a five-run sixth by Huntingdon basically put it out of reach. Lexi Crouthers relieved Horton in that inning and finished the game, allowing four hits in two innings.
Reserve player and senior Kutu Hall came on as a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh and added some excitement with a three-run shot off winning pitcher Hannah Belew, but it was not enough. Belew allowed 10 hits in seven innings, and four of the Lady Bucs six runs were earned.
A three-run homer comes off the bat of University High’s Kutu Hall in the seventh inning. (Photo by Mike Higginbotham)
For UH, catcher Belle Bright led the way with three hits, including her first home run of the season, and scored two runs. Horton was two for three with a run scored. Third baseman Taylor Treadway, first baseman Mollee Cohee, shortstop Ari Ramsaran and left fielder Madi Freeman also collected one hit each.
It was the Lady Bucs third consecutive trip to the state tournament, and the second time in those three years they were unable to collect a win at the Spring Fling. The team finished this season 34-10.
