SOFTBALL: Stringfellow sparks offense as Verdigris pulls away from NOAH
· Yahoo Sports
Rilyn Stringfellow kept finding her way onto the bases Friday.
More often than not, Verdigris found a way to bring her home.
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Stringfellow collected 3 hits and scored twice as the Lady Cardinals broke open a close game with a 4-run fifth inning on their way to a 9-3 nondistrict victory over NOAH.
The senior went 3-for-4 with a double, 2 singles and 2 runs scored while also driving in Verdigris' first run with a sacrifice fly. Sydney Lewis matched Stringfellow with 3 hits and scored three times, while Hadlee Jefferson went 2-for-3 with a double.
The Lady Cardinals [9-1] piled up 11 hits overall and received a complete-game effort from Charlee Hathcoat in the circle.
Hathcoat allowed 3 runs — only 1 earned — on 4 hits over 7 innings. She walked 5 and struck out 1 while working around several NOAH scoring threats.
Madison Wheeler took the loss for the Lady Jaguars, allowing 9 runs, 6 earned, on 10 hits over 6 innings. She struck out 3 and walked 3.
Verdigris grabbed the lead without needing a hit in the opening inning.
Lewis reached on a dropped third strike and wild pitch, stole second and advanced to third on another wild pitch. Stringfellow then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, allowing Lewis to tag and score for a 1-0 advantage.
NOAH answered in the bottom half.
Emmarie Hatfield reached on an error and stole second before Wheeler drove a double into center, bringing Hatfield home to tie the game.
Verdigris reclaimed the lead in the third.
Lewis singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Erin Gray sacrificed her to third. Stringfellow followed with an RBI single to left, putting the Lady Cardinals back in front 2-1.
Hathcoat received some defensive help in the bottom half after Mya Bundy walked and Hatfield singled.
Makenna Bundy lined a ball to first baseman Taber Ennis, who doubled Hatfield off first to turn a potentially dangerous situation into two quick outs. Hadlee Jefferson then handled Anny Nunley's fly ball in center to strand the remaining runner.
Verdigris added another run in the fourth.
Connelly Mitchell walked and stole second before Jefferson reached on a sacrifice attempt that resulted in an error at third. Mitchell scored on the miscue, and Jefferson advanced to second to make it 3-1.
NOAH trimmed the deficit in the bottom half without a hit. Anya Martino reached on an error and moved to third before scoring on a passed ball, pulling the Lady Jaguars within 3-2.
Then the Lady Cardinals created the separation they had been searching for.
Lewis singled to begin the fifth, and Stringfellow followed two batters later with a double to put runners at second and third.
Ennis doubled to left to score Lewis for a 4-2 advantage. Shay Melson then laid down a bunt and reached on an error, with Stringfellow and Ennis both coming home to stretch the lead to four.
Mitchell followed with a single before Jefferson brought Melson home with another base hit, completing a 4-run outburst and giving Verdigris a 7-2 advantage.
NOAH prevented the inning from getting any worse with a double play.
With the bases loaded, Olivia Young grounded back to Wheeler, who started a pitcher-to-catcher-to-first double play that cut down Mitchell at home and ended the inning.
The Lady Jaguars threatened to respond in their half.
Hatfield singled and stole second and third while Makenna Bundy walked and stole second, putting two runners in scoring position. Hathcoat escaped again, getting Nunley to fly out to right before Wheeler grounded out to second baseman Brinlee Murray.
The Lady Cardinals continued adding insurance in the sixth.
Stringfellow collected her third hit with a two-out single and advanced to third when Ennis reached on an error. After Ennis moved to second on a wild pitch, Melson singled to right to bring Stringfellow home and make it 8-2.
Jefferson started another scoring opportunity in the seventh with a leadoff double. She stole third before Lewis delivered her third hit, an RBI single to left that extended the lead to 9-2.
NOAH produced the game's final run in the bottom of the seventh.
Hatfield walked, stole second and advanced to third on Makenna Bundy's single. After Hathcoat retired the next two hitters, Hatfield scored during Martino's groundout for the final 9-3 margin.
Hathcoat finished it herself with some help from the defense as Mitchell fielded Martino's grounder at shortstop and threw to Ennis at first for the final out.
Verdigris also stole 4 bases and turned a double play in the victory.
The Lady Cardinals will return to action Tuesday with a road trip to Miami.