Ware County’s Lady Gators picked up their first win of the season Friday in Columbus at the Northside-Columbus Invitational.
The Lady Gators (1-9-1) dropped a 100 decision in five innings Wednesday, September 4 in Douglas to Coffee (6-5).
They beat King’s Ridge Christian 8-7 Friday, September 6 before falling 10-1 Saturday to Troup.
The Lady Gators hosted Region 4AAAA foe Warner Robins in a doubleheader Tuesday, September 10. Region member Wayne County, ranked sixth in the latest Top 10 poll, visits Thursday, September 12 for a 5:30 p.m. matchup. Ware County travels Tuesday, September 17 to face Perry.
Coffee........................................10 Lady Gators ................................0
DOUGLAS — The Lady Trojans won for the fourth time in five games handing Ware County a second consecutive shutout.
Coffee scored the only run it would need in the first inning against Reagan Middleton (2.1 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 2 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) with a two-out, run-scoring single.
The Lady Trojans plated three runs in the second inning taking advantage of a two-out error to extend the frame. The miscue allowed the first run to score with a two-run single two batters later capping the rally.
Coffee exploded for six runs in the third inning capitalizing on three errors while sending 10 batters to the plate.
Amberley Padgett’s two-out single in the fourth was Ware County’s lone hit of the game. The Lady Gators only other base runners came when Kara Coleman reached on a one-out walk in the first and Paislee Wildes was safe on a oneout error in the third.
Lady Gators .........................8 King’s Ridge.........................7
COLUMBUS — Makalyn Roberson’s one-out, run-scoring grounder plated the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning lifting Ware County to its first win of the season in its tournament opener.
Down 7-4 entering their final at bat, the Lady Gators started the fifth with Ashlyn Jacobs and Padgett reaching on consecutive errors. A walk to Middleton (1-for-1) loaded the bases.
Kallie Lairsey (1-for-1) lined an 01 pitch scoring Jacobs. One out later, both Padgett and Middleton raced home on a wild pitch tying the score at 7-all. Lairsey, who reached third on the play, scored on Lairsey’s groundout to first.
King’s Ridge jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead against Kayleigh Lemay (4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, 2 WP).
Ware County battled back with a three-run second and tied the game at 4-all with a run in the third.
Back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the second pulled the Lady Gators to within 4-3. Lairsey was hit by a one-out pitch and Ella Musgrove reached on an error one pitch later.
After both runners moved up on a groundout, Wildes (2-for-2) lined a two-run double. Molly Smith (1for-3) drove the ensuing offering for a run-scoring double.
Ware County evened the score in the third on Middleton’s sacrifice fly. Jacobs reached on a fielder’s choice with Padgett drawing a fourpitch walk. Both moved up on a wild pitch ahead of Middlton’s at bat.
King’s Ridge broke the tie in the top of the fifth plating three runs for a 7-4 lead.
Troup County.....................10 Lady Gators..........................1
COLUMBUS — Troup County steadily pulled away from a 2-1 first inning lead in beating the mistakeprone Lady Gators.
Ware County committed nine errors behind Middleton (4.1 IP, 7 H, 10 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP).
Down 2-0, the Lady Gators scored their lone run in the bottom of the first. Smith (1-for-3) and Coleman (1-for-2) got the inning started with consecutive singles.
After a walk to Jacobs loaded the bases, Middleton lofted a sacrifice fly to center scoring Coleman.
Troup County responded with three runs in the second, one in the third and finished the game with a four-run fifth.
