EDINA, Mo. – Hannah Ritterbusch hit two home runs, and Highland collected 17 hits Thursday evening as the Lady Cougars earned a 14-2 victory over Knox County in six innings. Highland scored five runs in both the third and sixth innings, while Corinne Brinkley delivered a complete-game performance in the circle during the Lady Eagles’ Pink Out Night.
The Lady Cougars wasted little time getting their offense going. Keera Rothweiler opened the game with a double, and Emma Berry followed with an inside-the-park home run down the right-field line to give Highland a 2-0 lead. Ritterbusch then cleared the left-field fence with a solo shot, stretching the advantage to three runs before Knox County recorded its first out.
Kodie Lay settled in during the second inning, retiring Highland in order. Lillie Penn caught the first two outs at shortstop, and Haley Hagerla handled a fly ball in left field to complete the scoreless frame.
Highland’s offense returned to work in the third. After Berry reached with a single, Ritterbusch drove her second home run of the evening over the right-field fence for a 5-0 lead. Ali Lundberg followed with a triple and scored on Aspen Scifres’ groundout. RBI singles from Malia Thomas and Alayna Logsdon capped the five-run inning, putting the Lady Cougars ahead 8-0.
Knox County answered in the bottom of the third. Melayna Miller singled and eventually came around to score as the Lady Eagles took advantage of Highland defensive miscues. Scifres responded in the fourth with a solo home run, giving Highland its fourth homer of the game and extending the lead to 9-1.
The Lady Eagles put together their strongest offensive inning in the bottom of the fourth. Penn singled to start the frame, and freshman Isabele Hudson added a two-out single to keep the inning alive. Fellow freshman Jaiden Talbot then singled to center, bringing Penn home and cutting the deficit to 9-2. Brinkley stranded the remaining runners to prevent further damage.
Knox County added a defensive highlight in the fifth. After Thomas drew a leadoff walk, Penn caught a line drive off the bat of Calyn Mathes and threw to Miller at first base to complete a double play. Lay followed with a strikeout to finish another scoreless inning.
Highland created separation in the sixth, beginning with Rothweiler’s leadoff triple. Berry brought her home with a single, and Lundberg added a sacrifice fly. Brinkley’s RBI double and Thomas’ two-run double completed the five-run rally. Brinkley then retired Knox County in order in the bottom half to secure the victory by run rule.
Ritterbusch finished 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored. Berry went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored, while Brinkley helped her own cause by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Rothweiler contributed a double and a triple, Thomas drove in three runs with two hits, and Scifres finished with two hits and two RBIs. Highland totaled 10 extra-base hits.
Brinkley allowed five hits and two runs, one earned, over six innings. The sophomore struck out six and walked one to earn the win. Lay also worked all six innings for Knox County, allowing 14 runs, 12 earned, with one walk and one strikeout.
Miller, Makennah Peavler, Penn, Hudson and Talbot each recorded a single for the Lady Eagles. Miller and Penn scored Knox County’s runs, while Talbot supplied the team’s lone RBI. Highland finished with five errors, and Knox County committed three.
The win improved Highland to 21-8, while Knox County moved to 5-15. Both teams are scheduled to finish the regular season on Monday, October 12, with Highland traveling to Scotland County and Knox County visiting Clark County.
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
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