MEMPHIS, Mo. - Atlanta delivered the first punch Tuesday night at Tiger Field, but Scotland County answered with the knockout blow.
The Lady Tigers erased deficits of 5-0 and 10-6 before scoring 13 unanswered runs over their final two trips to the plate, rallying past the Lady Hornets for a 19-10 victory. Scotland County plated five runs to claim its first lead in the fifth inning and erupted for eight more in the sixth while improving to 3-1 on the season.
Atlanta built its early advantage without recording a hit. Three Scotland County errors, a hit batter and a walk helped the Lady Hornets send nine batters to the plate and score five times in the top of the first.
Scotland County quickly began digging out of the hole. McKenna Musgrove and Lexi Webber reached to open the bottom half before Madi Buford drove a ball to the center-field fence for an RBI double. Another run scored on a groundout, and Mya Stott was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to trim Atlanta’s lead to 5-3.
The Lady Hornets added a run on another throwing error in the second, but Buford delivered her second RBI double of the night in the bottom half. She later scored on an Atlanta error, pulling Scotland County within 6-5.
Neither team scored in the third, giving both sides their first quiet inning of a game that began in 93-degree heat. Scotland County finally drew even in the fourth when Elle Hamlin reached, moved around the bases and scored on an error.
Atlanta responded with its best offensive inning in the fifth. Megan Peavler and Jada Nelson collected hits before Whitney Baker drove both runners home with a double. The Lady Hornets finished the frame with four runs on five hits, reclaiming control with a 10-6 lead.
Once again, Scotland County refused to let the game get away.
Freshman Olivia Dale led off the bottom of the fifth by reaching base, and courtesy runner Aly Ambrose advanced to third when Webber singled into right field. Ambrose scored on a passed ball before Hamlin drove a two-run double toward the left-field fence, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 10-9.
An errant throw allowed Hamlin to score the tying run, and Kenzington Miller later raced home on a wild pitch to give Scotland County its first lead of the evening at 11-10. The Lady Tigers had fallen behind before recording an out in the first inning, but by the end of the fifth, the game had completely changed hands.
Dale helped ensure the momentum stayed there. After replacing Musgrove in the circle during the fifth, the freshman retired Atlanta in order in the sixth and gave Scotland County’s offense another opportunity to go to work.
The Lady Tigers took full advantage.
Dale singled to begin the bottom of the sixth, and Ambrose again entered as her courtesy runner. Webber walked before Atlanta intentionally walked Buford, loading the bases with nobody out.
The move brought Hamlin to the plate, and she answered with an RBI single. Miller, Ailea Hayes and Hilary Hamm followed with run-scoring hits as Scotland County strung together five consecutive singles and broke the game open.
Allie Elenbaas added another RBI single later in the inning, while Stott drove home a run on a fielder’s choice. Elenbaas eventually scored on a passed ball, completing an eight-run frame and sending Scotland County into the seventh with a 19-10 advantage.
Atlanta put two runners aboard in its final opportunity, but Dale kept the Lady Hornets off the board. Miller secured the victory with a memorable final play in center field, stumbling as she approached a fly ball before juggling it several times and holding on for the out.
Dale earned the win with 2? scoreless innings of relief. She allowed two hits, did not issue a walk and threw 20 of her 27 pitches for strikes. Musgrove worked the first 4? innings, allowing seven hits and 10 runs, only four of which were earned, while striking out four.
Hamlin led Scotland County’s 12-hit attack by going 3-for-6 with a double and four RBIs. Buford reached base in all five of her plate appearances, finishing 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, two walks and three runs scored. Miller scored four times, while Webber crossed the plate three times.
Peavler paced Atlanta by going 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Baker added two hits, including a double, and drove home two runs.
The teams combined for 29 runs, 21 hits and 10 errors. Scotland County was charged with six errors, while Atlanta committed four.
Lady Tigers head coach Abi Haire said her team looked more like itself during the final three innings after struggling to settle into the game.
“A win’s a win,” Haire said. “I just think all around we’ve got to get better at playing the first three innings like we can. I felt like four, five and six, that was more us.”
Haire was especially proud of Dale for taking control in a difficult relief situation.
“She was ready to do her job,” Haire said. “I knew we were going to rely on her this year in the circle, so I’m just glad that she could step up and get that done for us.”
Haire also described Buford as “the heart and culture” of the Lady Tigers. Scotland County will return to Tiger Field Thursday for its Lewis and Clark Conference opener against Westran.
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
