Staff reports
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla — It was deja vu for Barren County on Monday.
A day after rallying for a win over Wayne County, Ohio, the Trojanettes erased a 4-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to top Columbia Academy, Tenn., 5-4 in their second spring break game.
“It’s exciting,” Barren coach Angie Vaughn said. “It shows a lot of character that we’re able to battle back. It’s frustrating that we’ve gotten into those situations, but I think it will prepare us for close games down the road.”
Barren trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Megan Thomas walked with one out to start the Barren rally and came home on Jessica Smith’s double to make it a 4-3 game. Amber Chapman walked before Hailey Vernon’s base hit drove in Smith to tie the game. The Columbia catcher made an errant throw to third base trying to throw out Chapman, which allowed the senior to head home and give the Trojanettes their second come-from-behind win in as many days.
Shelby Houchens and Hailey Vernon had two hits a piece to lead Barren offensively. And for the second straight day, Vernon had the hit that tied the game or gave the Trojanettes the lead in the bottom of the seventh.
“It’s exciting to see her get those kind of hits just being a sophomore,” Vaughn said.
Alissa Hampton went the distance to pick up the win in the pitching circle.
Barren scored a run in the second to take a 1-0 lead, before Columbia knotted the score in the third.
The Trojanettes went ahead 2-1 in the fourth. Molly Bellamy was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a passed ball. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, Bellamy scored on Thomas’ sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead.
With the game knotted at 2-2 after six innings, Columbia scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh to take a 4-2 lead.
“They’re a good ball club,” Vaughn said. “They hit the ball extremely well.”
Barren (5-2) continued its spring break trip with an 11 a.m. contest Tuesday against Corbin in Florida.
South Walton, Fla., 4, Glasgow 3
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - South Walton, Fla., took advantage of Glasgow miscues to pick up a 4-3 win in softball action on Monday.
The Lady Scotties (4-1) gave up four unearned runs in the loss, which was their first of the 2009 season.
“We kind of blew it,” Glasgow coach Steven Murphy said. “We had two plays in the outfield that weren’t handled well and we gave up four unearned runs.”
Even with the miscues, the Lady Scotties held a 3-2 lead with one out in the seventh inning. The second of two outfield errors allowed South Walton to surge ahead in the final inning for the win.
“We intentionally walked a batter to get the bases loaded and got a pop up that we mishandled,” Murphy said. “That allowed them to score the tying and winning run. We played pretty well except for those two plays. We’ll battle back and hopefully bounce back tomorrow.”
Kelsey Greer and Haley Perkins had a hit each to lead Glasgow offensively. They were the only two Lady Scottie players to pick up hits on the day.
“You have to tip your hat to their pitcher,” Murphy said. “She struck out 17 of our girls and only gave up two hits.”
Glasgow continues its spring break trip with a 4 p.m. game today against Freeport, Fla.
