Softball: Shamrocks Best Bulldogs 9-2 in Final Regular Season Game
The final game of the regular season would determine if Head Coach Kelly Hanlon’s team finishes over the .500 mark. Thanks to some exquisite pitching from junior right-hander Ella Betts and a potent offense, the Barnesville Shamrocks (13-12 overall) were able to do just that.
The Rocks hosted the Bridgeport Bulldogs (9-16 overall) on a rather chilly night Thursday at Barnesville Memorial Park. This game was a highlight reel for many of Barnesville’s players.
Going back to Betts, she was simply incredible on the mound. She recorded seven strikeouts for the evening and retired in the top of the sixth inning.
In the first, Betts was hot and didn’t allow any walks while striking out two Bulldogs. In the bottom of the first, the Shamrocks were hot at-bat with junior shortstop Peyton Loudin hitting a three-run home run to make it 3-0 Barnesville.
With runners in scoring position, Bridgeport’s pitcher Hanna Brewer was able to record some K’s (strikeouts) to get out the inning.
The second inning saw neither club get on the board, and in the bottom of the third Loudin hit her second of three home runs for the contest. Unlike her first, this ended up being a single RBI.
With Junior Mariah Schaffer on third, senior Roselynn Anderson recorded an RBI single allowing Shaffer to score. It was 5-0 Shamrocks.
Heading into the fourth, Schaffer tallied an RBI single which allowed Betts to score from third, making it 6-0.
In the top of the fifth, confusion in the infield allowed a Bridgeport run due to a Barnesville error. Betts and her teammates were able to escape anymore Bulldogs scoring.
Coincidentally, a Bridgeport error while trying to tag a runner, is how Becklee Oliver made it home safely from third base.
In that same inning, an RBI single from Betts made the score 8-1 in favor of the home team.
Loudin took over as the relief pitcher in the top of the sixth recording two strikeouts. The Bulldogs scored their second and last run of the evening with an RBI single from freshman Hannah McKinley which allowed sophomore Addie Snodgrass to score.
The finishing touch for the Shamrocks’ offense was none other than Loudin hitting her third home run for the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Bridgeport couldn’t connect in the seventh and Loudin recorded another strikeout to secure the victory.
Although the regular season may be over, Barnesville’s journey into the postseason will begin next Monday, May 18 at home with a tournament game against the visiting Coshocton Redskins. The first pitch is expected to be thrown at 5 p.m.
Bridgeport too will be competing in tournament play soon. Next Tuesday, May 19 at 5 p.m., they’ll host the Frontier Cougars.
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