Lady Eagles Improved And Prepared For Season

The Lady Eagles hosted Marquette and Incarnate Word Academy at the annual softball Jamboree on Friday. This was the first time Sullivan has played at the Sullivan Bank Ballpark this season in the two four-inning scrimmages. Sullivan split the two games by falling to Marquette in the first game 4-3 and finished the night off with a 8-3 victory over IWA. The Lady Eagles will continue to defend their district championship this week at the People’s Bank Back To School Classic at Campell-Chapman Park.

Marquette

Marquette held off Sullivan in the first game, 4-3. Evvie Blankenship got the start on the mound for Sullivan against the Mustangs. The first batter reached, but the second batter struck out. The next batter split the outfielders and scored a run.

The Mustangs scored again in the third and fourth innings but Sullivan rallied on their last chance. Hannah Campbell, Ava DeClue, and Evelynn Harris were placed on base. Alexis Funkhouser was hit by the pitch that scored Campbell. DeClue then scored on a dropped ball that advanced all the runners. Blankenship was walked to load the bases again. Morgan Braun was walked and Sullivan scored another run. Sullivan fell to Marquette by one run, 4-3.

Incarnate Word Academy

The Lady Eagles rallied during their second game and defeated the Red Knights, 8-3. Molly Lohden was the first Lady Eagle to reach a base on a walk. She advanced to second on a passed ball and then stole third. After two outs, Braun singled on a ground ball and Lohden was scored. IWA tied it up in the first and the score stayed the same until the top of the third.

Campbell and Grace Halmick were placed on first and second base and Harris was walked and the bases were loaded for DeClue. Campbell scored on a passed ball that advanced the other runners. DeClue was walked and the bases were loaded again. After two outs, Blankenship hit a ground ball and reached first on an error by the Red Knights’ pitcher. She scored Harris and DeClue. She advanced to second and scored Halmick on the same play. IWA answered back with a score of their own.

Sullivan kept the motivation during their last at bat and scored three more runs. Alexis Funkhouser, Jada Brooks and Braun were placed on the bases and Funkhouser scored on a wild pitch that also advanced the other runners. Standout player, Dorie Richardson smacked a huge ground ball and reached on an error. She scored Brooks and advanced Braun on the same play. Richardson then stole second and Braun scored on a passed ball. The same pitch advanced Richardson and Campbell was walked. The Red Knights scored one more time but fell short, 8-3.