By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com
MORTONS GAP - After spotting the Webster County softball team two runs in the first inning, Hopkins County Central pitchers Taylor Crawley and Ali Austin combined to shut out the Lady Trojans in the last six frames on Monday night.
Down by one, Austin entered in relief to start the fifth inning and benefited from Central's three runs in the bottom of the stanza en route to her third victory of the season in a 5-2 Lady Storm win.
When Austin took the mound, the pitcher said her squad's deficit was far from her thoughts.
"You have to put everything else out of your mind and have the mentality that you're going to do the best you can," she said. "You have to have confidence in your defense and confidence in your pitching and you have to get a strike. It doesn't matter, you have to get the out."
Freshman shortstop Ashley Flener provided Central with the big rip of the game when she knocked an 0-2, bases-loaded pitch to left field for a two-run double. The hit gave the Lady Storm (3-0) their first lead of the game, 3-2 over Webster (1-2).
The gapper even surprised Flener, who had a smaller goal in mind being down in the count.
"I was really just trying to make contact at that point, just trying to get one RBI if I can with the bases loaded like that," she said. "I just happened to get a good hit, better than I expected. It was just right in my sweet spot."
Down by one, Austin entered in relief to start the fifth inning and benefited from Central's three runs in the bottom of the stanza en route to her third victory of the season in a 5-2 Lady Storm win.
When Austin took the mound, the pitcher said her squad's deficit was far from her thoughts.
"You have to put everything else out of your mind and have the mentality that you're going to do the best you can," she said. "You have to have confidence in your defense and confidence in your pitching and you have to get a strike. It doesn't matter, you have to get the out."
Freshman shortstop Ashley Flener provided Central with the big rip of the game when she knocked an 0-2, bases-loaded pitch to left field for a two-run double. The hit gave the Lady Storm (3-0) their first lead of the game, 3-2 over Webster (1-2).
The gapper even surprised Flener, who had a smaller goal in mind being down in the count.
"I was really just trying to make contact at that point, just trying to get one RBI if I can with the bases loaded like that," she said. "I just happened to get a good hit, better than I expected. It was just right in my sweet spot."
One batter later, Taylor Brackett brought home a run with an RBI groundout to extend the lead to two.
Central coach Jesse Huff employed some small ball to begin the rally though with back-to-back bunts to start the inning from Jordan McNary and Taylor McKenzie, who both reached safely.
"It just worked out that we had some speed at the time and we were able to execute it and get the runners on," Huff said. "Once that started, the girls got them moving around and finally Ashley was able to make contact with it and put us up."
McNary tacked on another insurance run in the sixth on an RBI double to left.
Meanwhile, Austin handled the competition with ease by allowing just two hits and striking out five Lady Trojans, including the game's last batter looking.
"I love whenever they go out looking," Austin said. "It is so great.
"I got them pretty good with my change-up. That was the one that was working the best for me."
Before Austin entered, Crawley worked smoothly after some trouble in the first. Crawley allowed just one earned run on six hits and struck out two.
Offensively for Webster County, Molly Cummings and Ashley Smith each set the table in the No. 2 and 3 slots with a pair of 3-for-4 performances. Courtney Traylor drove in both players in the first inning on a single to centerfield.
Flener and McNary each posted multi-hit games for Central and Flener recorded a game-high three RBIs. Austin and Brittney Orten tallied the Lady Storm's other base hits. Orten added two stolen bases as well.
Central is scheduled to open its district schedule at 5:30 p.m. today at county rival Dawson Springs.
Webster (1-2) 200 000 0 - 2
Central (3-0) 100 031 X - 5
WP: Ali Austin
LP: Ashley Smith
Central coach Jesse Huff employed some small ball to begin the rally though with back-to-back bunts to start the inning from Jordan McNary and Taylor McKenzie, who both reached safely.
"It just worked out that we had some speed at the time and we were able to execute it and get the runners on," Huff said. "Once that started, the girls got them moving around and finally Ashley was able to make contact with it and put us up."
McNary tacked on another insurance run in the sixth on an RBI double to left.
Meanwhile, Austin handled the competition with ease by allowing just two hits and striking out five Lady Trojans, including the game's last batter looking.
"I love whenever they go out looking," Austin said. "It is so great.
"I got them pretty good with my change-up. That was the one that was working the best for me."
Before Austin entered, Crawley worked smoothly after some trouble in the first. Crawley allowed just one earned run on six hits and struck out two.
Offensively for Webster County, Molly Cummings and Ashley Smith each set the table in the No. 2 and 3 slots with a pair of 3-for-4 performances. Courtney Traylor drove in both players in the first inning on a single to centerfield.
Flener and McNary each posted multi-hit games for Central and Flener recorded a game-high three RBIs. Austin and Brittney Orten tallied the Lady Storm's other base hits. Orten added two stolen bases as well.
Central is scheduled to open its district schedule at 5:30 p.m. today at county rival Dawson Springs.
Webster (1-2) 200 000 0 - 2
Central (3-0) 100 031 X - 5
WP: Ali Austin
LP: Ashley Smith
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