Lack of offense costs Lady Waves in 3-1 loss to Mercy
By ZACH GRRENWELL Although the Meade County softball team jumped out to an early lead over Mercy Academy May 2, the Lady Waves could not sustain a lead over seven innings as the Jaguars went on to win 3-1. Mercy threatened in the top of the first inning when the Jaguars found themselves with the bases loaded with one out. However, the Lady Waves got a fielder’s choice at home, and senior Sarah Millay followed with a strikeout to end the inning with the bases still full. Meade senior Kristie Allen led off the bottom of the first with a stand-up triple. Sophomore Lori Fox then followed with a single, knocking in Allen for a 1-0 Meade lead. “I’m happy with the way my batting has gotten better,” said Fox. “It has started improving from the very beginning of the year.” Mercy first got on the scoreboard in the top of the third when the Jaguars led off with a double. A groundout scored the run and knotted the score at 1-1, but a stab by junior second baseman Cassie Durham later in the inning would prevent another runner from scoring. With two outs in the top of the fifth, the Jaguars laced a single up the middle to keep the inning alive. However, the next at-bat would be the Lady Waves’ undoing as Mercy crushed an inside-the-park home run, giving the Jaguars a 3-1 lead. After Meade once again evaded trouble in the top of the sixth, due in large part to a running catch by Fox in left field, the Lady Waves mounted one last comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Katie Straney began the inning with a single and was pulled for pinch runner freshman Cindy Padgett. After Padgett stole second with one out, Durham and freshman Megan Fackler struck out in succession, ending the game. The loss moved the Lady Waves’ record to 8-13 on the season. “As a team we need to improve our defense,” said Fox. “We have to be able to get into the game mentally so that we are not making too many errors.” Allen went 2-3 in the game with a triple, a walk and a stolen base. Millay pitched five innings with four strikeouts for the loss, while freshman Maris Harreld scattered three hits over two scoreless innings in relief. After hosting Breckinridge County May 9, the Lady Waves travel to Holy Cross May 11.
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