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Lady Cougars Pull Out Win Against Lady Tigers

Lady Cougars Pull Out Win Against Lady Tigers


By Chris Heimer

   The Highland Lady Cougars won their first game in the Knox County Varsity Softball Tournament by defeating the Scotland County Lady Tigers 4-3.  The win gave the Lady Cougars a record of 3-1 on the season.

   The Lady Tigers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after their half of the first as the lead-off batter Kirsten Johnson reached on an error. Johnson moved to second on a single by Tara Matlock and then both runners moved up thanks to a pass ball.  Deidra Dotcherman drove Johnson and Matlock in with a triple and later scored when Kelly Lister struck out but had to be thrown out at first to complete the out. 

   The Lady Cougars responded with two runs in the bottom of the first.  Jessica Murfin lead off with a single, then stole second and scored on a RBI single by Samantha Murfin.  Samantha [Murfin] later scored on an error, giving the Lady Cougars their second run.  The score remand that way until the bottom of the third when Samantha [Murfin] lead off with a single stole second. Samantha [Murfin] then stole third and the catcher’s throw was wide of third allowing Samantha [Murfin] to score and tie the game at three.  Because this was a tournament the game went into the fifth inning and used the tiebreaker rules putting a runner on second as the fifth inning started.

   The Lady Tigers moved their runner to third with a sacrifice bunt but the Lady Cougars got out of the inning by striking out the next two batters.  Coach Scifres said, “We did a good job of holding them in the fifth and not letting them score.”  The Lady Cougars came up in the bottom of the fifth and moved their runner to third as Amanda Hinkle laid down a bunt but Jessica [Murfin] beat the throw to third putting runners on first and third with nobody out.  Samantha [Murfin] grounded out for the first out. Emily Sly bounced into a fielder’s choice with Jessica [Murfin] getting thrown out at home for the second out.  Ashley Runquist came through with an RBI single to drive in Hinkle and give the Lady Cougars the 4-3 win. “We had the advantage of being the home team and were able to push a run across thanks to a big hit by Ashley,” Coach Scifres said.

   Samantha Murfin lead the Lady Cougars with two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI.  Samantha also picked up the win to give her a record of 1-0. She allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on six hits, while striking out nine, and walking zero.  Tara Matlock and Lacey Jack lead the Lady Tigers with two hits apiece while Deidra Dotcherman had two RBI’s.