Slow start hurts Sikeston at East Prairie

EAST PRAIRIE -- If only Sikeston's softball team could've started Thursday's game at East Prairie the way they finished it.

The Lady Bulldogs let a golden opportunity for a win slip away against their winless adversaries, allowing eight runs in the first inning of a 9-6 loss.

"We definitely should've jumped on (East Prairie) early and won the game," said Sikeston coach Jenny Hobeck. "We had some costly defensive errors in the first inning that led to them getting eight runs."

But after that disastrous first inning, Sikeston outplayed the Lady Eagles the rest of the game. East Prairie scored its only other run in the third inning, while Sikeston rallied with one run in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the sixth.

"If you take away the first inning, defensively we looked a lot better than we've looked in a long time," said Hobeck. "But it cost us in the first inning, and we weren't able to come back with the bats like we needed to."

Sikeston did actually outhit East Prairie, finishing with five. Jessica Owens led the charge, batting 2-for-3 with a double. Julie Annesser, Jennifer Walls and Kendra Riddle also had hits for the Lady Bulldogs. Walls' hit was a home run.

Sophomore Kayla Crocker was charged with the loss. In seven innings of work, she allowed four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. She also hit three East Prairie batters.

East Prairie's four hits came from Tabitha Johnson, LeAnne Hedges, Summer Holdiness, and Jessica Wallace.

Meghen Massey picked up the win, allowing five hits and five walks with three strikeouts.

"We had a couple of base running errors at the end of the game," said Hobeck. "If our girls would've been running right, we could've beaten them, or at least had a closer game. The way we finished the game was nice, but it was too little, too late."

Sikeston (1-7) will travel to Cape Girardeau on Monday to face Notre Dame. East Prairie (1-2) will host Neelyville on Monday.

BENTON -- Jackson's game at Kelly was rained out. No make up time has been set. The Lady Hawks (3-0) will travel to Tamms, Ill., today for a 4:15 game against traditional power Egyptian.