QUEEN CITY, Mo. - Scotland County needed two outs to protect a one-run lead with the bases loaded Tuesday evening, and Mya Stott delivered both on one play. The Lady Tigers’ second baseman caught a line drive and beat the runner back to second for an unassisted double play, ending Schuyler County’s late comeback and securing a 4-3 victory.
Scotland County built a four-run advantage behind MaKenna Musgrove’s pitching and a three-run fifth inning, but the Lady Rams scored twice in the sixth and once in the seventh to put the outcome in doubt. With the tying run at third and the winning run at second, Clara Dabney’s line drive found Stott, bringing a tense finish to a game that remained scoreless through three innings.
Musgrove and Schuyler County starter Madison Severns kept both offenses quiet early. Severns held Scotland County without a hit through the first three innings, working around walks while striking out three. Musgrove allowed a leadoff single to Maddox Berry in the first, but stranded her in scoring position after Halle Roberts moved her over with a sacrifice bunt.
The Lady Tigers also supplied timely defense behind Musgrove. In the third, Stott moved to her right to snag a low line drive off the bat of Jesslyn Herring. Berry later reached on a hit-by-pitch and stole second, but Elsie Small caught Roberts’ fly ball in left to keep the game scoreless.
Scotland County broke through in the fourth, though Schuyler County made the Lady Tigers work for their first run. Maty Buford drew a one-out walk, and Kenzington Miller followed with Scotland County’s first hit. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position before Small hit a grounder that led to Buford being tagged out at home.
With two outs and Miller at third, Ailea Hayes put a ball in play near the plate. Miller came home before Schuyler County could make a play on her, and Hayes reached with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Severns prevented further damage by fielding a ball hit back to the circle and throwing to first to end the inning.
The Lady Tigers added to their lead in the fifth. Stott worked a leadoff walk and advanced on a passed ball, setting up Musgrove’s drive over the left fielder and to the fence. The RBI double scored Stott to make it 2-0, and Musgrove moved to third on a groundout.
Elle Hamlin then walked, and Schuyler County turned to Dabney in relief. Scotland County used its speed immediately, sending Hamlin toward second and bringing Musgrove home on the throw for a double steal. Buford followed with an RBI single into left-center, scoring Hamlin and extending the lead to 4-0.
Dabney kept Scotland County from adding another run, giving the Lady Rams time to mount their comeback. She pitched 2? scoreless innings, allowing two hits without a walk and striking out three. Schuyler County also turned a double play in the sixth after Hayes singled, and Dabney retired the Lady Tigers in order in the seventh.
The Lady Rams began cutting into the deficit in the bottom of the sixth. Greta Schoonover drew a leadoff walk and reached third during a sequence of throws following a pickoff attempt. Jalee Snowbarger brought her home with a groundout to second, putting Schuyler County on the board.
With two outs, Trinity Gray worked a walk to keep the inning alive. Maybelle Lusher followed with a drive into the left-field gap that reached the fence, and Gray raced home from first, sliding in safely. Lusher’s RBI double cut the lead to 4-2, but Musgrove answered with a strikeout to strand her at third.
Schuyler County threatened again in the seventh. Herring opened with a single but was called out for leaving first early during Berry’s at-bat. Berry then singled and stole second, bringing Roberts to the plate with a chance to close the gap.
Roberts delivered despite falling behind 0-2, driving an RBI double down the right-field line to score Berry and make it 4-3. An intentional walk to Schoonover put the potential winning run aboard, and Snowbarger reached on a grounder to the circle when Scotland County could not make a play on the lead runner at third.
That loaded the bases with one out for Dabney. After a visit to the circle, Musgrove went back to work, and Dabney lined a pitch toward second. Stott caught it and raced to the bag ahead of Schoonover for the final out, preserving Scotland County’s victory just before rain began falling at the field.
Musgrove earned the complete-game win, allowing six hits and three runs with four walks and four strikeouts. She also contributed an RBI double and scored during Scotland County’s decisive fifth inning. Hayes led the Lady Tigers with two of their five hits, while Miller and Buford each added a single.
Berry had two hits, two stolen bases and a run scored for Schuyler County. Roberts and Lusher each doubled and drove in a run, while Snowbarger supplied the Lady Rams’ other RBI. Severns took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits with five walks and three strikeouts over 4? innings.
Scotland County improved to 7-9, while Schuyler County moved to 7-10. The Lady Tigers’ early scoring and final defensive stand proved enough to withstand a Lady Rams rally that brought the game within one swing of a different ending.
Photo courtesy for this story provided by Amy Buford
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
