Softball’s match up with Motlow State Community College Saturday resulted in heart break in extra innings and defensive struggles in game two.
In game one, the Bucks opened up the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning, and another run in the top of the second. Highlands did not respond offensively until the fifth inning as Haley Overton doubled down the first base line, Madison Dennis moved her over to third, and Annsley Todd tallied an RBI single. The Score remained 2-1 with Motlow in the lead until Madison Dennis stroked a solo homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game. Going into the eighth inning and entering ITB rules, two defensive errors proved to be costly for the Chargers as the Bucks went on to score four more runs in the inning. Chargers answered with only one run in the bottom of eight making the final score 6-3, Motlow State tallying the extra inning win.
Madison Dennis tallied multiple hits including a homerun. Malone Aldridge also collected multiple hits in game one. Hailey Cronic and Emma Veitch both collected a hit in game one as well.
Maggie Schandera pitched the entirety of game one. In eight innings, Schandera allowed 10 hits and only two earned runs, while striking out three of the Bucks.
In game two, the Charger’s offense struck first scoring two in the bottom of the first as Hailey Cronic and Malone Aldridge tallied singles, and Haley Robinson smacked a single to left field to score both Cronic and Aldridge. The two runs by the Chargers were left unanswered until the top of the 3rd inning when the Bucks struck back with three runs. The Bucks of Motlow State scored three more in the top of the fifth inning, and the Chargers answered in the bottom of the frame as Cronic doubled to score Madison Dennis. Motlow struck again with a run in the top of the seventh inning, and Bradey Tharp answered with her first career homerun as a Charger in the bottom of the frame. However, it was not enough to outscore the Bucks as they take game two with a score of 7-4.
Hailey Cronic was a perfect 4-4 at the plate with and RBI double. Madison Dennis had two hits in the game including a triple. Bradey Tharp had her solo homerun and a single. Haley Overton, Haley Robinson, Malone Aldridge, and Annsley Todd all tallied singles in game two as well.
Haley Robinson went the distance in the circle for the Chargers in her first full game pitched since shoulder surgery the previous year. Robinson allowed eight hits and four earned runs while striking out two of the Bucks.
The Chargers will be back in action Friday and Saturday in Boaz, Alabama. Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.