Hitting out of the seven-hole, Franklin-Simpson High School junior Shelby Caudill ended a big night and a 12-2 victory over Todd County Central on Tuesday with a walk-off, two-run single in the run-shortened affair.
Caudill, who went 2-for-4 and scored a run, drove in four runs — including Raegan Coffee and Sherrekia Kitchens with two outs in the fifth inning to send her softball squad to a third straight win overall. The Lady Wildcats scored seven times in the fifth inning to end the game by mercy rule.
Hanna Arthur (6-8) was the winning pitcher. She limited the Rebels to six hits and two runs during the complete-game victory. Arthur also struck out four and walked none, delivering 43 strikes on 55 pitches. Her counterpart — Todd Central Abigail McPherson — took the loss after giving up eight hits, nine runs (seven earned), and six walks in 4 1/3 innings.
The Rebels, who lost for the second day in a row, trailed 5-0 before they finally hit the board in the top of the fifth inning. Following Madelyn Slaughter’s lead-off single, Averie Luckenbill reached on an error and Abby Williams delivered an RBI single to cut Franklin’s lead to 5-1. Samantha Case then flew out into a double play that brought home a run before the second out was made. Franklin-Simpson proceeded to bang out 6 of its 11 hits in the final frame to secure the 10-run victory.
Tuesday’s matchup was the first of six straight away games for Todd County Central. The Rebels (8-11-1) will continue their “road trip” on May 13 at Hopkins County Central.