EDINA, Mo. - Marion County scored first Tuesday night, but the lead did not survive the opening inning.
Knox County sent 13 batters to the plate and erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the first, setting the tone for a 15-5 victory over the Lady Mustangs in five innings. Every spot in the Lady Eagles’ starting lineup produced a run as Knox County improved to 2-4 on the season.
Marion County took advantage of a two-out error to claim the early advantage. Kaleigh Schaefer reached when a ball dropped in left field and advanced to third before Saylor Wood singled through the middle to bring her home.
The Lady Mustangs threatened to add to their lead when Abigail Wright drove a ball into right field, but Makennah Peavler charged across the grass and made a diving catch to end the inning.
That defensive play proved to be the beginning of a memorable night for Peavler.
Kodie Lay singled with one out in the bottom of the first before Brynn Schwieter drove a ball over the left fielder, placing runners at second and third. Chloe Donahoo followed with a two-run double into the left-field gap, giving Knox County a 2-1 lead.
Lillie Penn was hit by a pitch and Isobele Hudson walked to keep the inning alive. Peavler then fought off a two-strike pitch and sent it into right field, scoring Donahoo and Penn with a two-run single.
The Lady Eagles continued adding to their lead with two outs. Adison Strong was hit by a pitch before Melayna Miller singled through the middle to score Hudson and Peavler. Schwieter absorbed a bases-loaded pitch to force Strong home, and a Marion County error later allowed Miller and Lay to score.
By the time the third out arrived, Knox County had collected five hits and turned a one-run deficit into a 9-1 lead.
The Lady Eagles immediately returned to work in the second. Hudson opened the inning with a double and Karly Parrish was hit by a pitch before Peavler drove a ball into the right-field corner. Both runners scored on Peavler’s double, giving her four RBIs in her first two plate appearances.
Strong later reached on an error and scored when Lay singled into right field, extending Knox County’s advantage to 12-1.
Marion County began showing some resistance in the third inning. Jada Worrell doubled with two outs and scored when Kaleigh Schaefer lined an RBI single past third base.
Kayla Smith took over in the circle for Marion County in the bottom of the third and kept Knox County off the scoreboard. Parrish doubled during the inning but was thrown out at third while attempting to stretch the hit into a triple.
Smith’s work in the circle began in the third inning, one inning earlier than reflected in the original box score. She pitched the final 2? innings, allowing two hits and three unearned runs while walking one batter.
The Lady Mustangs mounted their largest rally in the fourth as Knox County struggled through its roughest defensive stretch of the night. Wright reached on an error and eventually scored on Smith’s RBI single. Julia Wood followed with a two-out RBI double to bring Smith home, and another Knox County error allowed Wood to score, trimming the margin to 12-5.
Lay prevented the inning from growing any larger, and the Lady Eagles answered with a run in the bottom half. Schwieter reached on an error, moved to third on two wild pitches and scored when Donahoo grounded to first.
Knox County entered the fifth with a 13-5 advantage. Marion County put one runner aboard on an error, but catcher Jaiden Talbot made a heads-up play behind the plate and caught the runner straying from first to end the half-inning.
The Lady Eagles then scored twice to bring the 10-run rule into effect. Hudson reached on an error and came home on Strong’s groundout. Peavler drew a walk, advanced on a wild pitch and scored the game-ending run when Miller singled into right field.
Peavler finished 2-for-2 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored in addition to her diving catch. Miller added two hits and three RBIs, including the walk-off single, while Donahoo doubled and drove in three.
Lay earned the complete-game victory in the circle. The senior allowed five hits and five unearned runs over five innings, did not issue a walk and struck out two.
Knox County finished with 15 runs on 11 hits despite leaving eight runners on base. The Lady Eagles also committed six errors, while Marion County scored five runs on five hits and was charged with seven errors.
Knox County head coach Hays Klocke said the Lady Eagles were able to contain their defensive struggles instead of allowing one difficult stretch to define the rest of the game.
“The difference tonight versus last Thursday is we’re able to put that past us and just make it one bad inning,” Klocke said.
Klocke was especially pleased with the production throughout his batting order. All nine starters scored at least once, and eight recorded a hit.
“One through nine tonight, we smacked the ball,” Klocke said. “Several of those girls are stepping up to the plate.”
Knox County will travel to Paris on Thursday to begin a three game Lewis and Clark Conference play stetch extending into next week. Marion County fell to 1-4 with the loss.
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
