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Sikeston snaps losing streak with 9-5 win over Lady Devils
CHAFFEE -- After opening the season with a three-game losing streak, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs got the proverbial monkey off their backs Tuesday afternoon, picking up a 9-5 win against the Chaffee Lady Red Devils.
"That's big," Sikeston assistant coach Paige Silverthorn said of her team's first win. "It helps the team morale a bunch.
"The team knew that a win was coming and I believed in them, it was just a matter of time before it happened and hopefully you'll see a lot more coming."
Holding a slim 2-1 lead heading into the top of the fifth, the Lady Bulldogs kicked off a six-run rally in the frame when Sydney King stepped to the plate with a runner on second and two outs.
King smacked a grounder up the middle, scoring the runner at second to give Sikeston a 3-1 edge.
Later in the inning, with runners on first and third, Annie Ramey then hit a blooper just past the bag down the first base line that then rolled into foul territory, clearing the bases as the Lady Bulldogs went up 5-1.
Rounding out the rally that eventually put the Lady Bulldogs up by seven, Maggie Shepherd scored from third on an error by the shortstop before a pair of runners scored on the same passed ball with Lauren Graham at the plate.
"All heck kind of broke loose for a minute," Chaffee head coach Shawn Powderly said of the rally. "We just needed to step back and calm ourselves and we weren't able to do that quick enough before they tallied way too many on us."
Down but not out, the Lady Devils spent the final two-and-a-half innings fighting back into contention. After an initial out in the bottom of the fifth, Chaffee strung together four straight hits as part of a three-run rally to close back with four runs at 8-4.
Kick starting the rally Kaitlyn Miller and Sierra Miller strung together back-to-back singles before both were brought home by Kaitlin McFerron's hit down the left field line that snuck past an outstretched left fielder for a double.
Later in the frame, McFerron was brought home from third when Stevie Schrum singled to close the Chaffee's deficit to four.
Though the Lady Devils added another run in the sixth to close to within 8-5, Sikeston was able to take advantage of a missed throw at first base in the top of the sixth to score Shepherd from second.
With one last chance to close the gap, the Lady Devils opened up the bottom of the seventh putting runners on second and third with one out.
Before they could push anyone across, however, Chaffee flew out to third before a grounder to the second baseman ended the game.
"I don't know how many hits we have yet, but we swung it very well," Powderly said. "Overall, we did some things well, but not enough to make up the deficit."
Leading the charge for Sikeston, Dixon, Graham, Shepherd and Kayla Fodge had a pair of hits each, including a triple by Graham and and double by Dixon. All nine starters contributed at least a hit to the Lady Bulldogs cause.
"We played the ball we were capable of," Silverthorn said. "They put the ball in play and made the other team make mistakes. We just did what we were supposed to do."
For Chaffee, Kaitlyn Miller, Sierra Miller and Schrum had three hits each, including a double by two runs batted in by Schrum. McFerron and Adrienne Eichhorn had a pair of hits each.
Both Sikeston and Chaffee now stand at 1-3 on the season and will travel to Cape Girardeau on Thursday to play in the Notre Dame Softball Tournament.