Eighth-grade pitcher Allie Utley continued her winning ways Tuesday, spinning a gem in the circle to give the Franklin-Simpson High School softball team an impressive 8-1 win over host Todd County Central.
Utley (5-1) struck out eight and scattered just five hits in the complete-game effort. The youngster now has a 38-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2021 and been the pitcher of record in five of the Wildcats’ six victories this season.
Visiting Franklin-Simpson scored first on Kaeleigh Tucker’s one-out RBI single in the top of the first inning, then exploded for five runs in the third to take complete control. The top of the Wildcat order was top-heavy in Elkton, racking up five of the eight team RBIs, three of the seven hits, and a pair of runs.
Leadoff hitter Haley Fowler had a strong night, finishing 1-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Utley helped her own cause with the best offensive performance of the contest. She went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, a run, and an RBI in the all-around onslaught for FSHS.
Todd Central, which fell for the fourth time in its last five games, mustered just one run — an RBI groundout from Abigail McPherson — in the top of the sixth inning, preventing the shutout. McPherson (2-2) did suffer the loss, despite giving up just one hit. She was the victim of five Rebel errors, which led to just one earned run of the eight scored by Franklin-Simpson.
McPherson struck out a trio and allowed five free passes. Maddie Williams finished the game in the circle, giving up six hits and two runs (one earned) in 2 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Williams also struck out three and was the lone batter in the TCCHS lineup with more than one hit.
The Rebels (5-5) will look to get back on track when they play the second of a five-game homestand on April 22 against winless Fort Campbell.