EDINA, Mo. - Knox County celebrated eight seniors Tuesday evening, but undefeated Marceline spoiled the Lady Eagles’ Senior Night with a 15-0 victory in three innings at Knox County High School. The Lady Tigers, ranked No. 1 in Class 2 entering the contest, collected 13 hits while Emerald Bloss and Rosslyn Gladbach combined to hold Knox County hitless.
Marceline improved to 18-0 with the win, while Knox County fell to 5-14. The Lady Tigers scored three runs in the first inning, seven in the second and five in the third to bring the game to an early finish.
Before the evening’s senior recognition, Knox County’s veteran players took the field together. The Lady Eagles honored Lillie Penn, Haley Hagerla, Hannah Parsons, Brynn Schwieter, Elliot Bosch, Adison Strong, Kodie Lay and Melayna Miller, with Bosch joining her fellow seniors in the defensive lineup in right field during the game.
Marceline established its lead with consecutive doubles from Hadley Dorrell and Katey Kussman to open the first inning. Kussman’s hit brought Dorrell home, and after Gentry Burns walked, Whitney Pennington delivered a two-run single to make it 3-0.
Lay prevented further damage when Knox County recorded the final out of the inning, but the Lady Eagles were unable to answer against Bloss. The Marceline junior retired the first six Knox County hitters, striking out five over two innings.
The Lady Tigers broke the game open in the second. Sophie Lockwood singled, advanced on an error and later scored on Logan Rainey’s sacrifice fly to right field. Dorrell followed with a solo home run over the right-field fence, extending the advantage to 5-0.
Kussman singled and worked her way to third before Burns brought her home with an infield hit. Bloss then added a two-run home run to right field, giving Marceline an 8-0 lead.
Knox County produced a defensive highlight when Hagerla caught a ball in center field off the bat of Kaidynce Niemeier and nearly doubled a runner off second. Marceline still added two more runs with two outs, as Lockwood doubled over the center fielder to score Ella Moseley and courtesy runner Spencer Gordon.
Dorrell opened the third with her second double of the night, and Marceline added five runs to reach the final margin. Lay recorded consecutive strikeouts during the inning, but a two-run double by Gordon and an RBI single by Isabelle Dodd helped the Lady Tigers extend their lead.
Knox County had an opportunity to prolong the game in the bottom of the third. Isobele Hudson reached on an error, and Strong put down a bunt that moved her to second. Gladbach responded with consecutive strikeouts, stranding Hudson and completing the shutout.
Dorrell finished 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and an RBI. Kussman added two hits, including a double, and scored three times, while Bloss contributed two hits and two RBIs along with her home run.
Bloss earned the pitching victory with two hitless innings, five strikeouts and no walks. Gladbach followed with a hitless third inning, striking out two without issuing a walk.
Lay pitched all three innings for Knox County, allowing 13 hits and 15 runs, nine earned, while walking two and striking out three. The official box score credited Knox County with four errors and Marceline with one.
The Lady Eagles return home Thursday, Oct. 8, to host Highland at 5 p.m., with coverage on Hometown One. Knox County is also scheduled to travel to Clark County on Monday, Oct. 12, for a rescheduled matchup, with the varsity start time still to be determined.
(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.
