By By Matthew Nascone
Winning big is always good for team morale, but Escambia Academy head softball coach Keri Payne said another aspect of the Lady Cougars' 14-2 victory over visiting Southern Academy Thursday was the key to the win.
"We cut down our errors," Payne said. "We only had two and we have been averaging about eight per game, so only two errors was a big positive for us."
The two errors allowed Southern to score one run in the fourth inning and one run in the fifth, but EA sophomore Jennifer Morris (6-9) did not allow any other runs, striking out five batters, walking three and allowing seven hits for the win on the mound.
EA (6-10) jumped on Southern early with three runs in the first inning, three in the second and seven in the third for a 13-0 lead. EA added one run in the fourth inning before the game was ended in the fifth because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Senior Talerie Singleton led the way for the Lady Cougars, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, three RBIs and one run scored. Eighth grader Niki Bryan went 1-for-2 with one walk, three RBIs and two runs scored. Morris was 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored.
Freshman Amber Huskey was 2-for-3 with a triple, one RBI and one run scored. Freshman Taylor Helton had two walks and scored two runs. Junior Sara Beth Davis had two walks, scored one run and had one RBI.
Junior Katie Mothershed was 1-for-1 with a double. Junior Malori McGhee scored two runs. Sophomore Jackie Perkins walked three times and scored three runs and freshman Tori Rodriguez had one walk, one RBI and one run scored.
"The girls hit the ball good in the game," Payne said. "We played an all-around better game than we have been playing."
Lady Chiefs 7 Lady Cougars 2
In the opening round of the 2008 Border War between the Northview Lady Chiefs (6-9) and the Lady Cougars, NHS took the game, 7-2.
The Lady Chiefs broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning when senior outfielder Kasey Baggett reached on an error and freshman Ashley Digmon scored for a 1-0 NHS lead.
NHS added one more run in the fourth inning, as sophomore Candice Greenwell scored on a wild pitch.
The Lady Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Bryan and Singleton both scored on an error to knot the game at 2-2. The Lady Chiefs benefited from four Lady Cougar errors in the top of the fifth. They scored five runs in the inning for a 7-2 lead.
Baggett, junior Breana Halteman, freshman Emily Vickrey, Greenwell and sophomore Amber McMillan each scored.
"We beat ourselves with the errors," Payne said. "We also didn't hit the ball good at all."
NHS freshman Miranda Burkett was 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Freshman Shawna Montgomery was 1-for-3. Greenwell scored two runs and had one RBI. Vickrey had one run scored and one RBI. McMillan, Digmon and Baggett each scored one run.
McMillan picked up the win on the mound for NHS, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits. She struck out five batters and walked none.
Morris allowed seven runs, two earned, on six hits in a losing effort. She had five strikeouts and no walks.
At the plate for EA, Bryan was 2-for-3 with one run scored. Morris and Davis were 1-for-3 and Davis had a double. Singleton scored the other run for the Lady Cougars.
Up next for EA is an area game against Jackson Academy in Jackson April 1. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. The Lady Chiefs next game is Tuesday at home against Jay High School. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. for the JV and 6 p.m. for the varsity.