Seward Splits Day 2 of Cowtown Classic

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The Seward County softball team (1-4) split day two of the Cowtown Classic, defeating Ranger College 9-1 in the first game before falling to Cottey College 7-6. The Lady Saints finished the weekend going 1-4.

SEWARD COUNTY VS. RANGER RECAP

The second day started off in impressive fashion for the Lady Saints, mercy ruling Ranger college in 5 innings. Monique Ashley (1-2) picked up the win, pitching all five innings and allowing just one run on five hits, while striking out six batters.

The Lady Saints go on the board first as Sydney Epp drove in a run in the top of the first on a fielder’s choice to second base. Jullian Atteberry reached on a walk to start the inning, before Ammermann singled. With runners at first and second, Madeline Owen grounded out into a fielder’s choice, pushing Atteberry and Ammermann into scoring position for Epp to bring home.

Seward continued their offensive attack in the top of the second with a two out RBI double from Jullian Atteberry, to make the score 3-0. Paige St. Pierre and Sage Harrison got on base from walks, before Atteberry brought them home with a line drive to right field.

With runners on first and second in the top of the third inning, Miranda Nester hit a sacrifice bunt, but an error by the Ranger catcher put her on first base, while allowing Owen to come across the plate. With an 0-1 count, St. Pierre hit a hard ground ball to third base, but an error by the fielder allowed Epp and Nester to score, to bring the game to 6-0.

Three straight walks in the fourth inning loaded the bases for the Lady Saints, before a fourth consecutive walk allowed Ammermann to score. Two batters later, Lexi Manyik came to the play to connect on a two-out, two-run single to left field, bring home Owen and Epp. At the end of four, the score was 9-0.

The Rangers were put into rally mode, needing to score three runs to continue the game. In the bottom of the fourth, a double to left field brought home one Ranger, but that would be all Ashley would allow in the inning. With one last chance in the fifth inning, Ashley made sure there would be no rally. She struck out the first batter, before forcing the final two outs with infield popups, ending the game with the mercy rule, 9-1.

The Lady Saints had a good eye at the plate, reaching bases from walks nine times and striking out just twice. Seward used that to their advantage, coming away with seven team RBI, despite only having four hits. Atteberry, Nester and Manyik each came away with two RBI, while Epp brought home another.

SEWARD COUNTY VS. COTTEY RECAP

The Lady Saints saw a lead slip away as Cotter had a late scoring surge to win the game. Corrina Porras (0-1) took the loss in the circle, pitching 4.2 innings. A poor 5th inning brought Jordan Cordrey in as relief. Porras gave up six earned runs over eight hits, while striking out four batters.

Seward jumped out to an early lead, as Paige St. Pierre walked with the bases loaded, bring home the first run of the game. Kaitlin Ammermann reached with a walk before Madeline Owen and Sydney Epp both singled to load the bases.

The scoring continued into the second inning, as Sage Harrison, Raelyn Sanchez and Ammermann all reached on singles to load the bases. Owen grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring home Sanchez, making the score 2-0.

Cottey got on board in the bottom of the third inning. Aymee Broome reached base after being hit by a pitch. A stole base advanced Broome to second before a groundout pushed her to third base. A dropped third strike allowed Broome to cross home plate, making the score 2-1.

The Lady Saints answered the score by Cottey in the top of the fourth with a four-run inning. Sydney Epp hit a two-run double to right field, scoring Jullian Atteberry and Ammermann. Two batters later, St. Pierre connected on a two-run double to left field to score Owen and Epp to bring the game to 6-1.

With the game looking in control for the Lady Saints, an offensive surge by Cottey in the bottom of the sixth tied the game. Back-to-back two run doubles by the Comets brought the score to 6-5. Two-batters later, another double brought home the tying run.

The Lady Saints got out of the sixth inning, but an error followed by a passed ball to start the seventh inning put a runner at third base for the Comets with one out. A single to second base brought home what would be the game-winning run, as the Lady Saints failed to reach base in the top of the seventh, losing 7-6.

St. Pierre led the Lady Saints with three RBI, while Epp joined her in multiple RBI with two. Seward came away with eight hits and seven walks, but a left 10 runners on base.

The Lady Saints will travel to Arkansas City at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 6) to take on the Cowley Lady Tigers in a double-header.

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Ian Applegate