MEMPHIS, Mo. - Scotland County turned a one-run game into a commanding victory Monday night, erupting for nine runs in the third inning before finishing off a 15-0 win over Milan at Tiger Field. Lexi Weber’s two-run triple ended the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning under the 15-run rule, giving the Lady Tigers a successful return to their home softball complex.
MaKenna Musgrove set the tone in the circle, throwing a four-inning, one-hit shutout with five strikeouts and no walks. Scotland County backed her with 12 hits, improving to 8-11 on the season while Milan fell to 3-14.
“It was very, very nice to see us finally hit the ball solid, get good, hard contact,” Scotland County coach Abi Haire said. “No better way to be back on our home field.”
The Lady Tigers had played recent games on the school’s baseball field because of wet conditions, and their return to the softball diamond began with an early test. Milan put two runners aboard with one out in the first inning after Lancey Taylor reached on a throwing error and Kendra Sayre dropped an infield single between the pitcher and catcher.
Musgrove worked through the trouble, getting a force out before striking out Macie Glidewell with runners at second and third. Milan would not put another runner aboard, as Musgrove retired the final 10 batters she faced.
Scotland County struck first with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Elle Hamlin singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Maty Buford’s single brought her home for a 1-0 lead.
Taylor kept the Lady Tigers scoreless in the second, helped by a defensive play that erased a runner trying to take an extra base. Taleena Weaver’s throw to Janet Marquina retired Kenzington Miller at third, and Milan entered the third inning still trailing by just one run.
That changed quickly when Scotland County’s lineup came around again.
Weber opened the third with a single and stole both second and third. Allie Elenbaas followed with an RBI double down the left-field line, and Ali Ward’s groundout moved her to third. Hamlin then drove a ball into the right-center gap for an RBI triple before Buford’s groundout brought Hamlin home, stretching the lead to 4-0.
The Lady Tigers did their biggest damage after the second out. Musgrove doubled, and walks to Miller and Ailea Hayes loaded the bases. Hilary Hamm delivered an RBI single, and another run scored when Weber reached on an error.
Elenbaas followed with her second run-producing hit of the inning, a two-run single to left. Ward added another two-run single, completing a nine-run rally that featured seven hits and gave Scotland County a 10-0 advantage.
Haire said the team recovered well after its uneven start.
“They came out of it and played really well, finished it the right way,” she said.
Musgrove kept Milan off the board with another perfect inning in the fourth, and Scotland County finished the game without recording an out in the bottom half. Buford singled to start the inning and later scored when Miller reached on an error. Walks to Musgrove and Hayes helped set up Hamm’s two-run single, pushing the lead to 13-0.
Weber supplied the final swing, driving a triple to right field that scored Hayes and Hamm and brought the run rule into effect.
Elenbaas and Hamm each finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Elenbaas doubled and scored twice, while Hamm also crossed the plate twice. Hamlin went 2-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Buford collected two hits and drove in two runs, and Weber finished with two hits, a triple, two RBIs and two stolen bases. Ward added a hit and two RBIs, while Musgrove contributed a double and a walk.
Musgrove needed just 46 pitches, throwing 32 strikes while facing 14 batters. Haire credited her ability to work in the strike zone and trust the defense behind her.
“She’s just gotta work in the zone and put balls where our defense can work off of them, and she has been executing really well at that,” Haire said. “So I’m proud of how she came out and handled her job tonight.”
Sayre recorded Milan’s lone hit, finishing 1-for-2. Taylor took the loss, allowing 12 hits and 15 runs, eight earned, with four walks and no strikeouts over three innings pitched. She returned for the fourth but did not record an out before Scotland County ended the game.
Scotland County is scheduled to host Salisbury on Tuesday before traveling to Canton on Thursday. Milan returns home Tuesday for Senior Night against Linn County.
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
Click here to listen to the broadcast of this game.
