Caldwell County High School used key back-to-back doubles to explode for four runs in the top of the first inning, then held off a comeback attempt by Union County on Monday to pick up an 8-5 softball victory in Morganfield.
The Lady Tigers, who had lost four times in their last seven games, roared out of the gate by pounding five of their 11 hits in the opening frame and abruptly earning the upper hand. Caldwell also did its job defensively, holding the Bravettes to five runs or less for just the fifth time in 18 games this season.
After consecutive singles from AJ Hollowell and Allie Felker to open the game, Harper Holeman and Brylee Butts continued the onslaught with consecutive doubles to give Caldwell a 3-0 lead. A Presley McKinney two-out single later brought home Butts, staking CCHS to a commanding 4-0 advantage.
Host Union County managed just one hit in the first inning, went down in order in the second and was still scoreless after three innings of play. The Lady Tigers capitalized on the opportunity to create more separation in the top of the fourth inning, when another round of back-to-back leadoff singles eventually led to a two-run Bravette error that scored Hollowell and Rylee Thompson, and put Caldwell up six runs on the road.
UCHS, riding a four-game winning streak into the contest, finally found its groove in the bottom of the fourth, striking twice on three straight hits to begin the frame, including Jaylen Tackett’s RBI double and Sydney Thomas’ run-scoring single, before an out was ever recorded.
The Bravettes later pulled within 6-4 of Caldwell on two-out, RBI doubles from Jaylee Meadors and Jralee Roberson, but saw its threat come to a close when Lady Tiger freshman catcher Alicia Stanley caught Roberson attempting to steal third. The dramatic sequence ended the fifth inning with CCHS up a pair.
Brimming with confidence, Caldwell County almost immediately turned defense into offense and racked up a pair of crucial insurance runs — one on an RBI hit from Hollowell and another on Felker’s sacrifice fly to right field.
In its final at-bat of the affair, Union County strung together four straight one-out singles in the seventh inning and cut the Lady Tiger lead to 8-5 on Meadors’ one-out RBI base hit to left. Tackett then lined out to left-fielder Hollowell, who proceeded to throw out a tagging Hannah Carter at the plate to end the game with flair.
Illysa Stallins (6-6), making her 13th start of the year, earned the gutsy complete-game victory despite scattering 12 hits — one more than victorious Caldwell — and surrendering five runs. Hollowell, who made the game-ending defensive gem, went 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI. She and Felker (2-for-3, run, RBI) set the tone atop the Tiger order.
The loss was given to Union County freshman Cadence Coker (3-1), who suffered her first defeat in four starts. She also pitched all seven innings, giving up six earned runs and two walks, while striking out three. Prior to Monday, Coker had allowed just three earned runs in 16 innings in the circle.
Despite the loss, UC’s Carter bumped her team-leading batting average up to .530 by going 3-for-4 at the dish. Carter now has 35 hits this season, which is tied for ninth-most in the state. Meadors also had a nice performance in defeat, finishing 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Bravette hitters No. 1-6 combined for all dozen of their teams’ hits.
Caldwell County (7-8) moved back over .500 against 2nd Region opponents with Monday’s triumph. The Tigers are scheduled to take on another regional foe at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, when they host University Heights Academy.