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The Northwestern Lady Tigers softball team traveled to Greentown on April 14, hoping to get the better of the Eastern Lady Comets, and everything went according to plan. The Lady Tigers plated three runs in the first inning and never looked back, en route to a 9-0 win.
The Lady Tigers added four in the fourth and another pair in the sixth, though the game was never in doubt. By contrast, Eastern couldn’t find its way onto the scoreboard and barely managed to get on base.
Northwestern played a clean game, making no errors and keeping the basepaths clear of unearned runners. In fact, other than a wild pitch from sophomore starter Stevie-Rae Hedges, the Lady Tigers defense was unassailable.
Hedges delivered a sparkling appearance for Northwestern, striking out 12 and scattering five hits in a complete-game effort. She let her bat speak for her as well, delivering a hit, drawing a walk, and scoring two runs to support her mound work.
The Lady Tigers’ offense was a true team effort, as 10 different players registered a hit against Eastern’s Paige Wesner and Aubrey Ramer. Freshman Kruis Giles and senior Tessa Ortman each had two hits for Northwestern, and freshman Avery Madden logged the only extra-base hit of the evening: a double.
Junior Addy Clark, sophomore Alexis Turffs, and senior Maci Rody each drove in two runs for the Lady Tigers.
Eastern’s five hits, all singles, came from three players. Seniors Mackenzea Causey and Emilia Andrews each had a pair of hits, while sophomore Lauren Hendricks had one.
Wesner struggled against Northwestern, allowing seven runs on seven hits, while walking a pair in three innings of work. Ramer fared slightly better, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three over three innings.
Eastern has gone 2-4 since losing to Northwestern and now sits at 4-9. Its game against Western (5-4) was postponed on April 27, and the Lady Comets next host Taylor (0-8) on April 28.
Northwestern’s win put them on a 5-1 run, improving its record to 5-3. A game at Lewis Cass (2-7) on April 27 was postponed, so the Lady Tigers travel to Hamilton Heights (9-1) on April 28.
See additional photos from this game, featuring galleries for each team, courtesy of Adam Hartsough, at www.kokomolantern.com or on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.