Empire outlasts Comanche, 8-6

Empire got a couple of insurance runs late to hold off Comanche, 8-6, in Empire last Tuesday.

The two teams had battled back and forth throughout most of the game, but the Lady Bulldogs picked up two crucial runs in the bottom of the sixth that proved to be the difference.

Empire grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Natalie Williams belted an RBI double that scored Autumn Powers, who had reached earlier on an error. 

Empire would return the favor in the top of the second when an error led to Bre Gill scoring to tie the game. Gill had reached base on a dropped third strike.

The Lady Indians would take the lead for the first time in the game in the top of the third inning. Cassidy Smith led off the inning with a single, followed by another single by Cloey Kinkade. Smith would score when Savannah Kelnhofer grounded into a fielder’s choice. 

Empire retook the lead with a big inning in the bottom of the fourth when the Lady Bulldogs scored four runs to take a 5-2 lead. Empire led off with three straight singles by Lanie Johnson, Kylie Lemons and Cady Hill to load the bases. The Lady Bulldogs then scored two runs off a fielder’s choice from Kerree Benkley. Chazli Massey followed with a two-run single that pushed the lead to three runs.

That lead would not last long, however. Empire retired the first two batters in the top of the fifth, but back-to-back singles by Cianna O’Connor and Kelnhofer put two runners on base. That opened the door for senior Bre Gill, who drove an 0-1 pitch from Williams over the left field fence to tie the game.

Not to be outdone, the Lady Bulldogs found some two-out magic of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Hill reached on an error and then would score on an RBI single by Benkley that gave Empire a 6-5 advantage.

The Lady Indians looked to have something going in the top of the sixth, but a double play ended the threat.

In the bottom of the sixth, an RBI single by Halli Hayes and an RBI double by Johnson pushed the lead to 8-5.

Comanche tried to rally in the top of the seventh. They pushed one run home on an RBI double by Gill, her fourth RBI of the game with one out. A lineout and pop out by the next two batters ended the threat and secured the win for the Lady Bulldogs.

Both teams had 12 hits in the game. Raelee Ellis, O’Connor, Gill and Adelyn Evans each had two hits. Cassisdy Smith, Kinkade, Kelnhofer and Peyton Gomez had one hit each.

Cloey Kinkade was the losing pitcher, giving up five earned runs on 12 hits. She struck out one and walked one.

 Hays, Johnson and Hill had two hits each to lead Empire. Massey, Powers, Vanderburg, Williams and Lemons each had one hit. Every Empire player in the starting lineup had at least one hit. 

Williams was the winning pitcher, giving up one earned run on 12 hits. She had four strikeouts and one walk.