UNEARNED RUNS CONTINUE TO BITE CATS

It was an action-packed Monday evening at the new Guntersville Wildcat Softball Stadium as the Wildcats played host to county rival Arab.  The storyline was much the same in the first inning as the Cats spotted another opponent a 2 run lead. A pair of singles by Kathryn Whitlock and Callie Cranford got the Lady Knights in scoring position.  Whitlock scored on a wild pitch and Cranford was driven in 4 pitches later by Katie Brassell.  Arab led after 1, 2-0.

After 3 scoreless innings, Guntersville got things going with a 1-out walk by Jessica Light, followed by career homerun number 1 for Senior first baseman Jade Harden.  Audrey Thomas continued the hot streak with a laser to center field for a double.  Meredith Moore reached safely on a Lady Knight error and Thomas crossed home plate to give the Cats their first lead of the night at 3-2 after 4.

Arab managed only a single by Whitlock in the top of the 5th, but the Wildcats picked up where they left off in the 4th.  Courtney Redington singled and stole second base.  Beverly McDonald reached safely on another Arab error and Redington cruised into third base.  Jessica Light singled down the right field line to score Redington and Rachel Mason (running for McDonald) advanced to third. Jade Harden, who blasted a two-run homerun in the previous inning, called her own shot in the 5th with a sac bunt to plate Mason to extend the lead to 3 for the Cats at 5-2.

The lead was short-lived as the Knights plated four runs in the top of the 6th on walks by Bowen, Hunkeapillar, a Wildcat error, and singles by Higinbotham and Bennett, a sac fly by Whitlock and a dropped 3rd strike/wild pitch.  The Knights added one more run in the 7th on a wild pitch to secure the 7-5 victory.

Weather permitting, the Cats will be at home vs. North Jackson on Tuesday, March 4th at 4:30.

GUNTERSVILLE:

Courtney Redington    2 for 4; 1 run scored

Jessica Light    1 for 3; 1 run; 1 RBI; 1 BB

Jade Harden    1 for 2--HR (1); 1 run; 3 RBIs

Audrey Thomas    1 for 2; 1 run

    Pitching:

Amanda Mason    7 IP; 11 hits; 7 runs; 2 ER; 11 K; 2 BB

ARAB:

Chelsea Higginbotham    1 for 5; 1 R; 1 RBI

Kathryn Whitlock    2 for 4; 1 R; 1 RBI

Michaela Bennett    1 for 4; 1 RBI

Callie Cranford    1 for 4; 1 R; 1 RBI

Katie Brassell    2 for 4; 1 RBI

Kari Hatley    1 for 4; 2 Runs;

Jessica Bowen    1 for 3; 1 Run

Skylar Hunkeapillar    1 for 1; 1 run

    Pitching:

Michaela Bennett    4 IP; 3 hits; 3 runs; 3 ER; 3 K; 3 BB

Chelsea Higinbotham    3 IP; 2 hits; 2 Runs; 1 ER; 3 K; 0 BB