Lady Bulldogs push past Straughn

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 7, 2017

The Andalusia Lady Bulldogs used timely hitting and solid pitching to knock off the Straughn Lady Tigers 6-1 Monday night in Straughn.

In the top of the second inning, the Lady Bulldogs got a leadoff double from Zariah Jones and then a single ground out from Sydney Ray put Andalusia on top 1-0.

Straughn seventh grader pitcher Abbey Glidwell then struck out the next two batters to end the Lady Bulldogs’ half of the second inning.

Abby Glidewell readies up for a pitch.
Josh Dutton/Star-News

On the mound for the Lady Bulldogs, Ray picked up a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the second inning to keep Andalusia out front 1-0.

Olivia Amerson started of the top of the third inning with a walk and then Haley Harper reached on a single to put runners on first and second for the Lady Bulldogs.

A single from Haley Ballard then loaded up the bases with Lady Bulldogs.

Jones followed with a two-run single to give the Lady Bulldogs a 3-0.

Ray got a strikeout to start the bottom of the third inning and then sat the next two batters down to retire the Lady Tigers in order.

Straughn got a leadoff single from Molly Stewart to start the bottom of the sixth inning and then came around to score off of an error to cut the Andalusia lead down to 3-1 heading into the final frame.

Amerson was hit by a pitch to start the seventh inning and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt from Aaliyah Lawrence.

Harper was then plunked to give the Lady Bulldogs runners at first and second base.

Ballard then lined a double through the gap in right field that allowed Amerson and Harper to score and put the Lady Bulldogs up 5-1.

The Lady Bulldogs then went on top 6-1 when Jones laced a double in left field.

Ray retired the Lady Tigers in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Lady Bulldogs a 6-1 victory.

“I was proud of the way we played tonight,” Straughn head coach Kenny Skipper said. “We had a seventh grader out there pitching and playing in her very first varsity softball game. She picked 6 1/3 innings and did a really great job. We hit the ball well at times, but it seemed like it was always right at them. We will keep plugging away at it and some of those hits will start falling.”

Glidewell finished the night with five strikeouts for the Lady Tigers.

“I really thought we played a pretty complete game tonight on defense,” Lady Bulldogs’ head coach Anthony Mikel said. “We didn’t hit the ball as hard as I would have liked us to, but that little girl pitching for Straughn was the biggest reason for that. She pitched really well and did a great job of keeping us off balanced.”

Jones led the way at the plate for the Lady Bulldogs going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored.

Ray finished with five strikeouts and allowed just three hits.