So. Wayne downs S. Creek softball
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 12, 2011 1:47 PM
SEVEN SPRINGS -- Southern Wayne swept a regular-season softball opponent for the first time in 2011 on Monday afternoon.
And the Saints are on a modest, two-game win streak.
Hope Rose cranked out two hits and drove in three runs in an 11-5, non-conference triumph over county rival Spring Creek. All 15 players made at least one plate appearance for Southern Wayne, which claimed just its fourth victory in 14 tries this season.
"I told them before the game that our goal was to try and score as many runs as we could early, and get our girls who hadn't had any playing time a chance to play," said Saints head coach Michael Wiggs. "I thought we accomplished that the first couple of innings."
Rose delivered a two-RBI single in the first inning. The Saints capitalized on a walk, three hits, two wild pitches, a hit batsman and two errors, which led to a 4-0 lead. They added two second-inning runs, which allowed Wiggs to employ his substitution plan.
However, the Gators (1-11 overall) refused to be a five-inning victim.
Janna Price put Spring Creek on the board with a third-inning RBI single and eventually scored on a wild pitch. The Gators pushed across two fourth-inning runs and one fifth-inning run against Saints right-hander Morgan Best, who threw in relief of starter Madison Davis.
Southern Wayne committed four errors during the two-inning span.
"Defensively, we didn't make some plays and that was probably the most disappointing thing about the game," said Wiggs. "There were some routine plays behind her (Best) that should have been made. I thought she threw the ball fairly well."
The Saints led 10-4 through four innings, but could never invoke the mercy rule. Eight defensive miscues allowed the Gators to stay within striking distance.
"After we got up 6-0, we got a little bit relaxed and offensively, we didn't have a lot of punch to us after that," said Wiggs. "When you give them extra chances, it's going to show up, too."
Shatonia Kenion paced the Gators' offense with two hits in four at-bats. Morgan Stancil, starting pitcher Katlyn Casey, Elizabeth Edwards and Ali Tanner provided one hit apiece in the 2-hour, 13-minute affair.