Hartselle Lady Tigers open area play with split
The Hartselle Lady Tigers opened area play this past week going 1-1, with a win over Cullman and an extra-inning loss to Decatur.
Hartselle 13, Cullman 3
The Lady Tigers opened area play with a 13-3 win over the Lady Bearcats Tuesday. Hartselle had a season-high 14 hits, including home runs from Karsi Lenta and Emily Hall.
The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Cullman tied the game with three runs in the top of the fourth, but the Lady Tigers took control of the game with five runs in the bottom of the fourth and five more in the fifth.
Hall was 3-for-3 with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored. Kaelyn Jones was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Lentz was 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Zoey Crawford got the win in relief of starter Jenna Smith, pitching the final 1.2 innings. Smith pitched 3.1 innings and gave up three runs on one hit. She struck out five while walking two.
Decatur 4, Hartselle 3
Hartselle dropped a 4-3 decision to Decatur in eight innings Thursday afternoon.
Hartselle took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when K. Jones doubled home Larissa Preuitt. Decatur took the lead in the top of the fourth when Madison Murphy hit a two-run home run for a 2-1 lead.
The Lady Tigers tied the game up at 2-2 with an Emma Ferguson two-out bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth inning that scored Jones.
The Lady Red Raiders’ Murphy hit her second two-run homer of the game in the top of the eighth to give Decatur a 4-2 lead. The Lady Tigers pushed one across in the bottom of the eight but wouldn’t get any closer in the 4-3 loss.
Murphy went the distance in the circle for Decatur to get the win. She allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out 18. She was 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and four RBIs.
Jenna Smith took the loss for Hartselle. She gave up two runs in 2.2 innings of work. She allowed three hits while striking out five.
Jones and Lentz each finished 2-for4 with a run scored. Jones had an RBI. Emily Hall was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Ferguson had an RBI on two walks.
