SYLACAUGA, Ala – The Aggies defeated the Wolves 13-3 in six innings Monday afternoon at Pinecrest Park.
With the win, Sylacauga swept the season’s series. Earlier in the season, the Lady Aggies topped Fayetteville in two other games by one run each which included a thrilling 10 inning affair in the last matchup. The Lady Aggies also bested the Wolves in the Talladega County tournament.
Fayetteville took an early lead in the top of the first after Natalie Ritchey scored on Emma Ray’s sacrifice bunt and Allye Buttram scored on a RBI single from Natalie Liner.
The Wolves’ 2-0 lead disappeared by the end of the first inning as the Aggies put of four runs of their own to take a 4-2 lead. Aurielle Turner got things off to a good start with a leadoff double followed by a base hit from Kaylei Horn. Maddi Ingram and Raegan Wills both reached base on a couple of Fayetteville errors. Ingram scored on a Lani Varner sacrifice fly and Kaleigh Smith plated Wills with a base hit.
The Lady Wolves pulled to within one run of the Aggies in the top of the fourth. Liner was walked to start the inning off, followed by a pair of base hits from Kathryn Holley and Rayleigh Chappell. With the bases loaded, Ritchey reaches base on an Aggie error that allowed Liner to score.
Sylacauga added another run in the bottom half of the fourth to increase their lead to 5-3. Neeley-Scott Murphree led the inning off with a double and scored when Turner hit into a fielder’s choice.
The Aggie bats heated up in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs on five hits. After McKenzie Merkel hit a single, her courtesy runner, Zoe McLaughlin scored on a Will’s RBI double. Varner pushed Wills over to third with a base hit of her own. With two outs, Murphree hit a two RBI single scoring Wills and Varner’s courtesy runner, Mason Porch. After Madison Martin reached base on an error, Turner knocked Murphree in with her second hit of the afternoon. Martin crossed the plate as Horn reaches base on yet another Fayetteville error. A ball four pitch to Ingram gets past the catcher, allowing Turner to score. The Aggies were unable to end the game in five innings as Horn and Ingram were both left stranded on base.
After shutting down the Wolves in the top of the sixth, Sylacauga scored two more runs to clinch the 10-run rule victory. A one out double by Varner is followed by Smith’s single that advances Varner’s courtesy runner Porch to third. An error on the first baseman allows Porch to score. Smith then scores on a fielder’s choice that Murphree hits into, ending the contest.
Sylacauga produced 13 hits offensively, including four extra-base hits. Neeley-Scott Murphree led the offense going 3 for 4, crossing the plate twice and knocking in three more. Raegan Wills and Aurielle Turner also had a base hit, a double and two RBIs each.
Earning the win was Lani Varner, who toed the rubber the entire six innings for the Aggies. She allowed four hits, one walk and struck out six on 81 pitches.
Sylacauga improves to 14-7-2 on the season and has gone 5-0-1 in its last six games. The Lady Aggies travel to Wetumpka to take on Indians tonight.
