MONTEVALLO, Ala – The Sylacauga Aggies defeated the Montevallo Bulldogs in five innings Friday night while scoring a season high 17 runs.
The Aggies got an early lead in the top of the first inning when Raegan Wills’ RBI single scored Madison Martin. McKenzie Merkel then scored as Kaleigh Smith reached base on a Bulldog error. The lead didn’t last long as Montevallo tied the contest in the bottom half of the inning with a two run homer over the center-field wall.
Sylacauga regained the lead in the second inning, scoring five more runs on four hits. Aurielle Turner got things started with a RBI single followed by Maddi Ingram’s two RBI base hit and a RBI double from Merkel. Wills batted in the fifth run with a sacrifice fly.
Adding three more runs in the top of the third, the Lady Aggies were up 10-2. With two out, Martin hit a two RBI single along with a RBI base hit from Merkel.
Five more runs were plated in the fourth inning by the Aggies. The bats came to life once again with two outs. This time Turner and Martin hit a pair of RBI singles. Merkel then hit a big three RBI single off the wall in center-field. The Lady Bulldogs cut into the lead by adding three runs of their own, leaving the Aggies with a ten run advantage heading into the fifth inning.
Sylacauga added two more runs in the fifth inning’s top half. Following Wills’ lead off base hit, Smith hit a triple that scored her. Smith touched the plate when Neely-Scott Murphree hit a sacrifice fly deep into right-center.
Lani Varner and Lorel Bryant’s combined effort in the circle yielded six hits and five walks. They struck out three while the Aggie defense handled the rest.
At the plate, Sylacauga collected 16 hits and six walks. The offense was led by Aurielle Turner ( 3 for 4, 2 RBIs, 3 runs), Madison Martin ( 2 for 4, 3 RBIs, 4 runs), and McKenzie Merkel (4 for 4, 5 RBIs, 1 run).
The Aggies now stand at 11-7-2 (2-0 Area) on the season. Upcoming this week are two key 5A Area 7 match-ups. Clay-Central visits Sylacauga on Tuesday, and then a trip to Munford on Wednesday to wrap up regular season area play. With a win in either contest, Sylacauga will clinch the regular season area title, and host the area tournament.
