East Jessamine junior Heather Welch slid into first base to beat out a bunt during the top of the seventh inning against Lexington Catholic. Welch scored later in the inning. (Photo by Jonathan Stark/jstark@jessaminejournal.com / March 17, 2012) |
East Jessamine’s softball team looked in mid-season form in its second game of the season Saturday. The Lady Jags (2-2) defeated Lexington Catholic 5-2 in the second game of a split doubleheader. East lost to Anderson County 8-3 in game one.
“I thought in the first game we looked like it was our first game; (we looked) nervous,” East Jessamine coach Tom Hamm said. “(Between games), we talked to them, did a little switching in the infield, and in the second game, they came out and only had one error. Haylee (Hamm) had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning, and Sarah and Haylee hit the ball well.”
In East’s victory, Sarah Rainwater drove in three runs; pitcher Haylee Hamm had a no-hitter through five and two-thirds innings.
The Lady Jaguars were able to jump on Catholic in the first inning as Ashlyn Dray drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Heather Welch.
The 1-0 lead was protected by Hamm’s efficient pitching as she retired the first 12 batters she faced on 42 pitches. She struck out three.
East tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning. Malin Miracle and Shaylin Pryse reached base on walks, and Sarah Rainwater hit a two-out double to left-center field to make it a 3-0 contest.
Hamm ran into her first spot of trouble in the fifth inning as she walked a batter; she bounced back with her fourth strikeout to get out of the inning.
The Lady Knights were finally able to break through in the sixth inning with a one-out single to left field, followed by a bunt single. Both Lady Knights would score later in the inning to cut the lead to 3-2.
Pryse scored on a wild pitch, and Rainwater drove in Welch in the top of the seventh to push the lead out to 5-2.
The East defense was tested again in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The first three batters of the inning reached base before East got an out on a fly ball to right field. The next batter hit a ground ball to Olivia Day at third base. She threw the ball home to get the runner out at the plate on a forceout and keep the three-run lead intact.
Hamm induced a fly ball to center field to get the final out.
Rainwater went 2-for-3 with a walk and drove in three runs. Pryse and Welch each had a walk and two runs scored. Hamm went 1-for-4. East collected just three hits but drew seven walks.
“I think they played well for a second game,” coach Hamm said.
East Jessamine defeated Danville 7-1 on Monday and fell to Bourbon County 6-2 on Tuesday.
The Lady Jaguars will travel to Boyle County next Monday at 6 p.m. and host Tates Creek on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
