Park Hills, Mo. (KFMO) - A 6th inning home run lifted the Central Lady Rebels over the West County Lady Bulldogs on Monday, 8-7.
For a minute, it seemed like Central (5-6) would run away with this one. The Lady Rebels scored 5 runs in the top of the 1st on four extra base hits, including a 2-run home run for Kamryn Fraley. However, West County (8-4) answered back with 3 runs of their own in the bottom half of that same inning, cutting the lead to 5-3.
That score held until the 5th, when Central increased its lead to 6-3 after an inside-the-park home run for Sydney Miles. Again, though, the Lady Bulldogs were able to respond, this time taking the lead after a 4-run inning, capped off by a 2-run home run for Sadie Patterson. The Bulldogs led after 5 innings, 7-6.
Fortunately for Central, they were able to score the last 2 runs of the game, both off of a final home run sent over the left field fence by Mallory Blankenship in the 6th. West County loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th, but reliever Alex Neff struck out the next 3 batters to secure the 8-7 win for Central.
Neff earned the win for the Lady Rebels, pitching 2.2 innings, giving up 3 hits but striking out 5. West County starter Grace Barton took the loss, going the full 7 innings and giving up 8 runs in a 6-strikeout performance.
