The Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriots recorded 15 hits---including two home runs---in a 14-4, five-inning victory recently over Russellville at Lady Patriot field.
Junior Kalee Skaggs homered in her first at bat and remained hot throughout the day. Skaggs went 4-for-4 at the plate, scored three times, and had a pair of RBI’s. Junior teammate Ryley Whitney had a double as part of a 3-for-4 day. Sophomore Taylor Stamps and seniors Carly Wheat and Savannah Wood each had two hits. Wheat also belted her second round-tripper of the season and the 20th team home run of the year---which, based on available records, is a new single-season ACS record for team home runs.
Russellville (14-18) pushed a run across in the top of the first inning to grab an early 1-0 lead. Skaggs’ seventh home run of the year tied the game at one. Stamps followed with a single and came around to score the go-ahead run on a fielders’ choice. The Lady Patriots added two runs in the second after singles by Wood, RaeAnn Stafford, and Skaggs.
The Lady Panthers responded with a three-run third. A one-out single followed by a walk preceded a two RBI double by Lady Panther Tonisha Hampton. Macy Meacham’s groundout later in the inning plated Hampton to tie the game at four.
AC-S edged ahead in the third before blowing the game open with a five-run fourth. Stafford walked to start the fourth and moved to second on a Kassi Bullington bunt sacrifice. A Skaggs and Stamps singled to give AC-S a 7-4 lead. Three batters later, Wheat lifted a three-RBI homer to left field as the Lady Patriots opened a 10-4 lead.
The Lady Patriots closed out the game with a four-run fifth. A walk by Stafford, singles off the bats of Bullington and Skaggs, and a walk by Stamps gave AC-S am 11-4 lead. Whitney doubled to plate Bullington and Skaggs. Kirstein Ogles’ groundout allowed Stamps to score for the 14th run of the game---allowing AC-S to take the win by run-rule.
Kris-Anne Pardue was credited with the win. Pardue relieved starter Alison Byrn in the third inning. In two-and-a-third innings of work, Pardue allowed one hit, struck out two batters, and walked one. Byrn’s stat line showed two-and-two-thirds innings---four runs on five hits, two strikeouts, and three walks.