The last-inning heroics concluded a taut pitcher's duel between a pair of Ballard hurlers and Grayson County's Jackie Higdon. Right-hander Brittany Mockbee started for the fifth-ranked Bruins (17-4) and pitched the first five innings, giving up no runs on two hits, walking no one and striking out 10 Cougar batters.
Mockbee was replaced in the sixth inning by left-hander Katie Pfost, who eventually was tagged with the loss. Pfost pitched only one inning, retiring no one in the seventh. She gave up just the one hit, but walked three while striking out one.
Higdon was sensational once again. She gave up just one hit, a third-inning single by leadoff hitter Emily Hammer. She walked two and struck out 15 Ballard batters. A two-out walk and Hammer's single in the third would have put runners at the corners against Higdon, but Hammer inexplicably tried to take second base and was thrown out easily by Cougar catcher Jenna Cantway.
A two-base error put Ballard's Lindsey Albertson in scoring position with no outs in the fifth inning, but Higdon got first-baseman Jenny Ackerman to pop out, then struck out both Abby Mulloy and Izzy Jones to end that threat.
A lead off walk and a stolen base put a runner at second base with no outs in the sixth, but Higdon got Hammer on a pop up to Cantway behind the plate, then struck out Erin Thompson and Pfost to end that inning.
Jordan Clemons reached base on an error with two outs in the first inning, but Mockbee struck out Mallory Carter to end the inning. Cantway and Clemons had back-to-back singles off Mockbee to start the fourth inning, but the Bruin hurler retired Carter on a pop out, then struck out Blessitt and Taylor Houchin to snuff the rally.
Finally, in the seventh, Blessitt worked the count to 2-2 then ripped a curving liner down the line in right. Hammer, in right, tracked the ball well, but it fell just beyond her reach and rolled to the fence near the foul pole, allowing the swift Blessitt to cruise into third with the triple.
Pfost then walked Houchin on a 3-1 count, bringing up Desiree Waterman with the chance to drive in the winning run. However, Pfost's first pitch to Waterman skipped in the dirt past catcher Stephanie Albertson, and Blessitt was able to score without a play to end the game.
The Cougars (17-7) will be on the road this Thursday, travelling to Scottsville to take on 12th-ranked Allen County-Scottsville. That game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.
News-Gazette Sports Reporter
dbrown@gcnewsgazette.com
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