Gentry girls can't stop Farmington

GENTRY -- What started off as a defensive battle, with both the Lady Pioneers and the Lady Cards held scoreless in the first three innings, erupted into a runaway ballgame when the visitors from Farmington knocked in six runs in the fourth and another five in the sixth.

Jordan Olds and her Gentry teammates were able to make quick work of Farmington in the first three innings. But with one out in the top of the fourth, the Lady Cards loaded up the bases with two singles and a fielder's choice before Bethany Doty pounded one over the left field fence to score four.

But the Lady Cards weren't done. With two more hits and a sacrifice bunt in the inning, two more Farmington base runners scored before Gentry finally retired the side.

The Lady Pioneers couldn't answer in the bottom of the inning. Olds singled, the next batter struck out and Christina Campbell hit into a double play, with Farmington picking off Olds at second and Campbell at first.

Things calmed down in the fifth even though Farmington threatened with three more base hits.

But in the sixth, the Farmington girls led off with two hits and a sacrifice ground ball to bring another runner across the plate. And, with two more singles and a double, the Lady Cards managed to build their lead to 11 runs before the Lady Pioneers shut them down by catching a runner attempting to steal third.

The Lady Pioneers had only four hits in the game. Farmington had 14.

Gentry 14

Decatur 1

The story was different on March 31 when the Lady Pioneers played the Lady Bulldogs in Decatur, with Gentry racking up 14 runs on 12 hits in just four innings of play and Decatur managing only one run.

Gentry picked up two runs in the first and three in the second, but scored eight in a blow-out third inning.

Decatur's only run came in the bottom of the third when Cameron Shaffer doubled to left field and drove in Haley Burden, who had singled and then advanced to second base.

Lora Fuller drove in three runs for Gentry and had a two-RBI double in the second.

Courtney Brown was two for two at bat, picking up two hits, two RBIs and scoring twice for Gentry.

Fuller and Rebecca Evans both pitched two innings for Gentry in the game. Cameron Shaffer pitched for Decatur. Fuller struck out four, Evans three and Shaffer two. Evans was credited with the win, throwing two innings of shut-out ball.