Bailey’s blooper as good as a blast
Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/Sports/60090/
BENTONVILLE — Clutch hits have been eluding the Bentonville softball team lately. When Tandie Bailey finally delivered one Tuesday afternoon, she got a little something extra.
Bailey’s high bloop to right in the sixth inning was as good as a blast for the Lady Tigers. It scored Robyn Carter from third, then turned into an inside-the-park home run to help Bentonville beat Siloam Springs 2-0 in a nonconference game at Lady Tiger Field.
Faith Lund retired the last seven batters and struck out the side in the seventh to earn the win for Bentonville (4-2 ), which endured a frustrating stretch of 19 consecutive innings without a run before Carter and Bailey scored.
The last run BHS scored before Tuesday came in the fifth inning of a 10-0, runrule win against Gravette on March 5. They were then shutout at Fayetteville (7-0 ) and Van Buren (2-0 ).
“ That puts a sick feeling in your gut because those are conference losses, then we have to sit around a week thinking about it because it’s spring break, ” Bentonville coach Kent Early said. “ But we had something positive happen for us. We had a shutout instead of being shutout. ”
Siloam Springs drops to 0-5.
Bailey’s hit caught Siloam Springs right fielder Meghan Kenney on an in-between hop. She charged the ball and the sidespin shot it right past her and all the way into the right field corner.
Carter’s run was likely a given even had the ball been caught. Bailey, though, ran hard all the way and was waved home at third and scored standing up.
“ We practice high balls out here (defensively ) because the players know they’ve got to stay back and read the bounce off the turf, ” Early said. “ It helps the home team (being familiar with the turf ) … as long as we can hit the ball out there. That’s the key. ”
Carter was running for Lund, who started the sixth with a single to put the leadoff runner aboard for the second straight inning. The Lady Tigers began the fifth with two on and nobody out, then popped up a bunt and grounded back to pitcher Lauren Mills twice.
Mills struck out four in seven innings and was also backed by great defensive plays by Shelby Briley (LF ) in the fourth and Maci Lewis (2 B ) in the fifth.
“ Siloam Springs did a great job, ” Early said. “ Lauren kept ’em in the ballgame and (Lewis ) made a backhand play that looked like a dadgum major leaguer. ”
Gabby Dawes, Jordan Rackleff and Kenney had the hits for the Lady Panthers. Kenney’s was the last, a single in the fifth to start a two-out rally before Rackleff lined a shot to second that was caught by Jackie Saumweber to leave two stranded.
Bentonville will host Har-Ber on Thursday and then compete in a two-day tournament in Conway this weekend.
Siloam Springs will host Alma on Thursday and then compete in a two-day tournament in Van Buren this weekend.