DUELING ON THE DIAMOND: Andalusia Lady Bulldogs edge Pleasant Home
Published 12:05 am Saturday, April 14, 2018
- Sydney Arnett gave up just one hit and struck out nine batters. Josh Dutton/Star-News
The Andalusia Lady Bulldogs edged out the Pleasant Home Lady Eagles 4-1 in a pitching duel on Friday night in Pleasant Home.
In the top of the first inning, Mary Katherine Salter reached first to start the game after drawing a walk.
Salter moved to second off of a fielder’s choice off of the bat of Millie Manring.
A few pitches later, Salter advanced to third on a passed ball.
The Lady Bulldogs then grabbed the lead when Chloe Mikel drove in Salter on a fielder’s choice.
Ava Bailey then struck out the next batter to end the opening frame.
In the pitcher’s circle for Andalusia, Sydney Arnett got two ground outs to start the inning and then struck out the third batter to end the first inning.
Bailey struck out the first batter in the top of the second inning before Raygen Clarke reached on a single.
Alana Nettles followed with a single to put runners on first and second with one out.
Bailey then got the next two batters to pop out to end the Lady Bulldogs’ threat.
Arnett came out strong in the bottom of the second inning as she struck out the first two batters of the frame.
A fly ball to second base ended the inning with the Lady Bulldogs on top 1-0.
Manring got a one-out single to get things going for the Lady Bulldogs in the top of the third inning.
The next batter popped up a bunt and Pleasant Home’s Amy Kate Bulger came charging in to make the catch.
Bulger then fired to first to catch the Andalusia runner off the bag for a double play to end the frame.
Arnett remained strong on the mound and picked up another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third inning.
Bailey also remained dialed in as she retired the Lady Bulldogs in order in the top of the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Arnett again retired the Lady Eagles in order with a pair of strikeouts and pop up to Zaria Jones at shortstop.
Bailey continued her strong performance with a pair of strikeouts and a ground out as she retired the Lady Bulldogs in order in the top of the fifth inning.
The Lady Eagles got their first base runner of the game when Bulger was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom of the fifth inning.
Arnett didn’t let it get to her as she retired the next three batters.
In the top of the sixth inning, Salter singled to start the frame.
A few batters later, Arnett drove in Salter with a two-out single to give the Lady Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
Sydney Ray followed with a single and then Clarke doubled home Arnett and Ray to put Andalusia up 4-0.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Daisy Cordle broke up Arnett’s no hitter with a lead-off single.
After a fielder’s choice and an error by the Lady Bulldogs, Bailey drove in a run to make the score 4-1.
In the top of the seventh inning, Bailey worked around a one-out error to keep the score 4-1.
Arnett finished off the Lady Eagles in the bottom of the seventh with a 1-2-3 inning.
Arnett finished the game with nine strikeouts and Bailey came in with five.