The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Hornets split doubleheaders vs. both Pioneer, Bedford
Both Hornet boys, girls threaten but cannot unseat champs
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
With her team down 2-1 in the second inning of the first game of a doubleheader against Bedford Monday night, junior first baseman Lindsy Robison tied the score single-handedly when she blasted a solo home run to center that cleared the outfielder's head and rolled to the fence.
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She wasn't done.
Six scoreless innings later, Lindsy Robison led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to left center. Hayley Stevens bunted her to third, Joanna Walker walked, and Emily Ouellette got an infield hit to load the bases for Katy Black, who ripped one off the pitcher's foot. Robison scored the game-winning run standing up.
"It was a good feeling to start off the inning and then end it with the winning run," said Lindsy Robison. "I just wanted to start the inning off with a good hit because I knew if I got a good hit some good hitters were behind me."
Bedford scored twice in the first on a two-out, two-run double, but Lisa Brophy held the Mules scoreless the remainder of the game, striking out four.
Bedford threatened to break the 2-2 tie in its half of the eighth when the lead-off hitter singled to center. The next batter sent a hard hit just left of second, but senior shortstop Alyssa Robison made a diving stop and crawled to second base to tag it with her throwing hand to get the force out.
It was a critical defensive effort.
The next two batters singled sharply to left to load the bases. Brophy got the second out on a called third strike. The final out came on a fluke play at short when the runner was called out for running into the tag after colliding with Alyssa Robison, who was moving to field a groundball making its way into left center.
In their half of the eighth, the Hornets threatened themselves with runners at second and third with two outs. Second baseman Katie Chapman drove a ball to deep center, but the Bedford outfielder ran it down to end the inning.
Coach Dawn Whitford described the 3-2 extra-innings win over the Mules as huge.
"I take from it that we're competitors," Whitford said. "We had a lot of missed opportunities to put the game away, but we were gritty and stuck it out and came away with the win. We showed a lot of mental and physical toughness."
Which made the 7-2 loss in the nightcap tough to take.
"They hit us pretty hard," Whitford said. "Staying focused in the second game is something we're concentrating on."
The split with Bedford left Saline 7-2 overall.
The Hornets split a pair with Pioneer last week, falling 7-2 in the opener, but storming back in the second game to win 10-0 in five innings. Lisa Brophy suffered the loss and her sister Kayla Brophy got the win, recording four strikeouts and giving up only one walk.
In the second game, Saline used eight hits from eight hitters to rack up six runs in the second. Black, Lindsy Robison and Walker each had two RBI.
The shutout was a sign of good offensive things to come for Saline. The team produced 43 hits and 34 runs on its way to winning the Clinton Invitational over the weekend.
Saline defeated Flat Rock 12-5 after going up 7-0 in the second. Kayla Brophy struck out 11 and was well supported with 19 hits from her teammates.
Ouellette went 3-for-5, scoring three runs, while Black had three RBI. Stevens had four RBI on 3-or-5 hitting, while Alyssa Robison had two RBI and a double.
Chapman had a double and Amanda Laurent went 2-for-3. Lindsey Fairchild closed the game out in the seventh in relief.
The Hornet offense remained alive in a 10-0 win over Leslie. Ouellette had three runs and three stolen bases, and Shayna Campbell went 1-for-2.
The Hornets clinched the tournament championship with a 12-7 win over host Clinton. Alyssa Robison went 3-for-4 with two doubles, while Ward produced five RBI. Walker went 3-for-3, recording two RBI and three runs.
It was a good day for Hornet softball, said Whitford.
"Any time you can put up that many runs and that many hits, it's a good feeling," she said.
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