LA PLATA, Mo. - An early two-run deficit did little to slow Brashear on Wednesday, as the Lady Tigers answered with four runs in the bottom of the first inning and pulled away for a 12-2 victory over Marion County in five innings in the opening round of the Class 1 District 5 softball tournament.
Audrey Erwin struck out nine without issuing a walk, and Brashear scored 12 unanswered runs to secure a quarterfinal matchup with top-seeded North Shelby. The eighth-seeded Lady Tigers improved to 5-9, while ninth-seeded Marion County finished its season at 1-12.
Marion County struck first behind a hard-hit leadoff double from freshman Kinzleigh Schafer. She eventually scored on a wild pitch, and Kaleigh Schafer, who reached on an error, came home when a ball off the bat of Saylor Wood was misplayed. The Lady Mustangs carried a 2-0 advantage into the bottom of the first.
Brashear responded immediately. Erwin and Carli Clark drew consecutive walks to begin the inning before Lillie McKim delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit in half. Kennedy Gray followed with a single, and a throwing miscue during the play helped Brashear move in front, 3-2. Galeya Huston then brought Gray home with a groundout to second base, completing the four-run response.
After the first inning, Erwin kept Marion County off the scoreboard the rest of the way. The sophomore struck out three in the second, working around a runner who reached on an error, and protected the lead when the Lady Mustangs threatened again in the third.
Kaleigh Schafer and Abigail Wright each singled in that inning, giving Marion County an opportunity to chip away at its 4-2 deficit. Both runners were left in scoring position, however, as Erwin ended the threat with a strikeout.
Brashear created separation in the bottom of the third, scoring three times to extend its lead to 7-2. Walks and defensive miscues helped the Lady Tigers sustain the inning, and Aubree Newland added an RBI single. Marion County turned to Aspen Cheney in relief of starter Anna Luckett during the frame.
The Lady Tigers added two more runs in the fourth without recording a hit. Gray was hit by a pitch, and Brashear continued to put runners aboard through walks. Katryna Youngman drew a bases-loaded walk to force home a run, and another run followed as the lead grew to 9-2. Marion County eventually escaped further damage with a double play that went from third base to home and on to first.
Alyssa Byers supplied Marion County’s fourth hit with a single in the fourth inning and stole second, but Erwin again kept the Lady Mustangs from scoring. She then retired the side in order in the fifth to finish her complete-game victory.
Brashear closed out the contest with three runs in the bottom half. Erwin opened with a single, Clark reached on a fielder’s choice, and McKim added her second hit. Clark scored on a wild pitch before walks to Gray and Huston loaded the bases. Another wild pitch brought McKim home, and Gray followed when the return throw to the pitcher got away, ending the game under the 10-run rule with one out.
Erwin finished 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored while allowing four hits and two unearned runs over five innings. She threw 57 of her 83 pitches for strikes.
McKim went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Gray drove in two runs and scored three times. Huston contributed a hit, an RBI and two runs, and Newland added a hit and an RBI. Maddie Mayfield drew three of Brashear’s 10 walks as the Lady Tigers finished with seven hits.
Kinzleigh Schafer’s double led Marion County’s four-hit effort, with Kaleigh Schafer, Wright and Byers each adding a single. Luckett took the loss, allowing seven runs over 2 1/3 innings, while Cheney worked the final two innings in relief.
Brashear advances to face North Shelby in the district quarterfinals, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, at 4:15 p.m. at the La Plata Softball Complex.
(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.
