QUEEN CITY, Mo. - Knox County erased an early four-run deficit, but Canton answered in the bottom of the second inning and kept adding to its lead Thursday night, defeating the Lady Eagles 14-4 in five innings in the Class 1, District 5 quarterfinals at Schuyler County High School.
The third-seeded Lady Tigers scored in every inning, getting a four-hit performance from Izzy Ruffcorn and nine strikeouts from Olivia Slater to advance to Saturday’s semifinal against second-seeded Schuyler County. Knox County finished its season at 5-17, while Canton improved to 9-13.
Canton took advantage of an early opportunity in the bottom of the first. Slater reached on an error and Chayse Uhlmeyer walked, putting two runners aboard for Claire Whiston. The senior drove a double to left field to bring both runners home, giving the Lady Tigers a 2-0 lead before Knox County recorded an out. Whiston later scored on a wild pitch, and Ruffcorn doubled and eventually came home as Canton stretched the lead to 4-0.
The Lady Eagles responded in the second, sending all nine hitters to the plate to get back even. Brynn Schwieter started the offense with a bunt single, and Chloe Donahoo followed with a single through the middle. Isobele Hudson and Adison Strong also contributed hits during the inning, with Strong driving in a run and Melayna Miller adding an RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Makennah Peavler then delivered the tying hit with two outs, bouncing a single through the infield to bring Hudson and Strong home. The four-run inning pulled Knox County into a 4-4 tie, although Slater struck out the next batter to leave two runners in scoring position.
Canton’s answer came with two outs in the bottom half. Whiston kept the inning alive with an infield single, and Izzy Baker followed with a walk. After both runners moved into scoring position, Ruffcorn sent a ground ball past third base for a two-run single, putting the Lady Tigers back in front 6-4.
That proved to be the last scoring inning for Knox County, as Slater settled in and held the Lady Eagles scoreless over the final three frames. She worked around a hit batter in the third and a leadoff single by Jaiden Talbot in the fourth before retiring the side in order in the fifth.
Meanwhile, Canton continued to build its advantage. The Lady Tigers added two runs in the third as Slater and Uhlmeyer scored on wild pitches, extending the margin to 8-4. Ruffcorn opened the fourth with another double, and Canton turned that opportunity into a three-run inning. Peyton Spurgeon contributed an RBI single, and Lilly Myers brought home another run with a groundout as the lead grew to 11-4.
Canton added three more in the fifth to finish the game. Whiston scored after reaching base to open the inning, and Ruffcorn added another run-scoring single. Lia Turner, running for Ruffcorn, eventually came home on a wild pitch with two outs to give Canton the 10-run margin.
Ruffcorn finished 4-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Whiston went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Addelyn Baker and Spurgeon each added a hit and an RBI. Canton finished with 10 hits and drew eight walks.
Peavler led Knox County with two hits and two RBIs. Schwieter, Donahoo, Hudson, Talbot and Strong each added a single, with Schwieter, Donahoo, Hudson and Strong accounting for the Lady Eagles’ four runs.
Slater earned the complete-game victory, allowing seven hits and four runs, two earned, without issuing a walk. She struck out nine and threw 57 of her 74 pitches for strikes. Kodie Lay took the loss for Knox County, working 4? innings with two strikeouts and eight walks. Six of the 14 runs charged to her were earned.
The game closed the high school softball careers of Knox County seniors Lillie Penn, Haley Hagerla, Hannah Parsons, Brynn Schwieter, Elliot Bosch, Adison Strong, Kodie Lay and Melayna Miller. Canton moves on to face Schuyler County in Saturday’s district semifinal, scheduled for approximately 1:15 p.m.
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(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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