by Hunter Dawkins
Despite the sprinkling and tentative storm in the air, the Long Beach Lady Bearcats snatched the lead late in the game in an 11-3 victory over Hancock on Monday. The game was tied at two batting in the bottom of the fifth, when Senior Brittney West led the Lady Bearcats to victory by driving in five runs. West went 3-4 at the plate and drove in runs on a single in the fourth, a single in the fifth, and a single in the sixth.
“It was a good game for us, we kept the errors down, and had a strong performance from Brittney West,” said Long Beach Head Softball Coach Scott Zink. “If our pitching holds up, we’ll be tough to beat by anybody.”
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Bearcats tied the score 2-2 when West singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run.
Long Beach Sophomore Pitcher Kayleigh Garrett led things off in the pitcher’s circle for the Lady Bearcats and went three innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out six. Katelyn Schroeder, the Lady Bearcats freshman tossed the final four inning, allowing one run, throwing five strikeouts and recording the win.
West was the only player for either team with multiple hits while knocking in five runs. Long Beach Senior Chelsey Reed and Sophomore Laurel Ladner scored two runs each, as the team had nine hits and five walks.
The Lady Bearcats didn’t commit a single error in the field with Junior Catcher Maddy Morgan having the most chances in the field with 11. Long Beach will host Harrison Central Tuesday evening at 7pm.
