West Fork bounces back from loss, wallops visiting Eureka Springs
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008
WEST FORK - The West Fork softball team bounced back from a big loss on Tuesday and won a twinbill on Thursday against the Eureka Springs Lady Highlanders. The Lady Tigers won going away in both games, 17-2 and 14-0.
Sarah Sagely started things out on a good note for the Lady Tigers, getting a base hit in her first plate appearance. She then stole second and third and Shelby Miller brought Sagely home for the game's first run.
Eureka Springs struck back in the top of the second, scoring two runs on just one hit. West Fork (3-5, 2-2 ) hurler Rachel Risley issued three walks and hit a batter, giving the Lady Highlanders a 2-1 lead.
West Fork's offense woke up in the bottom of the second inning. The Lady Tigers sent 13 batters to the plate and unloaded for eight runs on eight hits with the knockout blow coming from an in-the-park home run by Hailey Burnett.
"It took us a while to get adjusted, but finally our bats started moving in the second inning," Lady Tiger coach Lisa Kirk said.
West Fork added six more runs in the bottom of the third inning on just five hits. The Lady Tigers then put up a 2-spot in the bottom of the fourth to bring the margin to 17-2 and then the game was called due to the mercy rule.
Sarah Sagely led the way offensively for the Lady Tigers, going 3 for 3 at the plate. She was a home run away from hitting for the cycle and she crossed home plate in all four of her plate appearances.
Risley picked up the win for West Fork, which was her second on the season. She went the distance, striking out nine and allowing only one hit.
The second game was much the same for West Fork. The Lady Tigers started with two runs in the first then added five in the second, four in the third, and three in the fourth.
Risley pitched well in the second game as well for the West Fork. She did not allow a hit in the second game and had six strikeouts the second time around.
For the second game in a row, the Lady Tigers had an in-the-park home run. Christy Fraley hit one to the wall and took advantage of a late throw back to the infield to touch all the bases in the bottom of the fourth.
Fraley was the offensive star in the second game going 3 for 3. On top of the home run, she had a single and a double and scored all three times she came to bat.
"The confidence level was up a little bit in the second game so we relaxed and played better than we have been playing," Kirk said.
West Fork travels to Berryville today.
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