KAHOKA, Mo. - Clark County took an early lead Tuesday evening, but Kirksville answered with four runs in the second inning and gradually pulled away for a 9-1 victory at the Lady Indian Athletic Complex.
Playing through 95-degree heat at first pitch, the Lady Indians opened the scoring without the benefit of a hit. Holland Perry drew a one-out walk, Cabell Palmer followed with another, and Chloe Shatley was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cadence Morss then worked a full-count walk to bring Perry home and give Clark County a 1-0 advantage.
Kirksville made an early pitching change after the run scored, bringing freshman Maggie Athon into the circle with the bases still loaded and only one out. Emma Pitford reached on a fielder’s choice that resulted in a force at the plate before Athon struck out Amanda Yoder to strand three Lady Indians and prevent the inning from becoming more damaging.
That escape proved to be an early turning point. Kirksville erased the deficit in the top of the second by combining its short-game approach with a pair of Clark County defensive miscues. Mackenzie Gunnels walked and Jersey Schempp singled before an error in left field allowed Gunnels to score and Schempp to advance to third. Megan Kinney walked and moved into scoring position, and a bunt by Macy Lehmann resulted in another throwing error that brought home two runs. Eva Danielson then drove in Lehmann on a fielder’s choice, turning Clark County’s early lead into a 4-1 Kirksville advantage.
The Lady Indians had an opportunity to respond in the bottom of the inning when Kennyck Nixon and Perry drew consecutive two-out walks. Palmer sent a ground ball to second, however, and Kirksville retired her to leave both runners aboard.
From there, Athon and Clark County starter Emma Pitford settled into a much steadier rhythm. Pitford worked a scoreless third inning, while Athon leaned on a Kirksville defense that made several solid plays behind her. One of the best came in the bottom of the third when Danielson ranged toward the middle from shortstop, made a diving stop and recovered in time to throw Palmer out at first.
Kirksville extended its lead in the fourth after Kinney singled, stole second and came home on Danielson’s RBI single. Clark County put two runners aboard in the bottom half when Maggie Wheeler was hit by a pitch and Nixon singled, but a pair of flyouts kept the Lady Indians from cutting into the 5-1 deficit.
Pitford continued to battle through the heat and retired Kirksville in order in the fifth. Clark County collected another hit in the bottom half when Pitford singled, but Athon again kept the Lady Indians off the scoreboard.
Kirksville finally created separation in the sixth. Schempp opened the inning with a looping single and Kinney followed with a bunt single. Lehmann then lined a ball into left field that was misplayed, allowing both runners to score. Danielson added an RBI single later in the inning, stretching the margin to 8-1.
The Lady Tigers scored their final run in the seventh when Athon reached on a hit and an accompanying outfield error before coming home on a passed ball. Clark County put a runner aboard on Kirksville’s only error of the night in the bottom of the inning, but Athon retired the next three batters to complete the victory.
Athon earned the win with 6? scoreless innings of relief, holding Clark County to three hits while walking three and striking out two. Kirksville finished with 11 hits, led by two apiece from Danielson, Chloe Magruder, Schempp and Kinney. Danielson drove in three runs, while Kinney scored three times.
Nixon, Pitford and Taralynn Little recorded Clark County’s three hits. Perry drew two walks and scored the Lady Indians’ lone run, while Morss collected the RBI. Clark County committed five errors, contributing to five unearned runs for Kirksville.
Pitford went the distance in the circle despite the oppressive conditions, throwing 104 pitches over seven innings. She allowed 11 hits and nine runs, only four of which were earned, while issuing two walks.
Clark County head coach Megan Claiborne said the Lady Indians were seeing the ball well early before struggling to adjust after Kirksville changed pitchers.
“We kind of lost our bat there for a little bit,” Claiborne said. “They started off really reading the pitches well, and then they brought in a second pitcher and just didn’t quite have it.”
Claiborne also pointed to a demanding early-season stretch for a Clark County team that had already played several games in a short period of time.
“We’ve been hot, we’ve played a lot of games and put in a lot of innings,” Claiborne said. “We just have to find that groove back from last Thursday and put a pin in the bleed and make it stop.”
The loss dropped Clark County to 5-3, while Kirksville improved to 3-2. The Lady Indians will remain at home Thursday for a rivalry matchup against Scotland County.
Photo courtesy for this story provided by Hometown Journal
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
