Winning Pitcher Has Season-High 15 Strikeouts And A Solo Homer

This has been sort of a roller coaster season for the Baylor softball team as they've shown moments of brilliance and at other times, not so good.  They hit a low spot in their season when they got run-ruled at GPS last Thursday, but have since bounced back to win their next two games, including a home game with Silverdale on Monday afternoon.

These two teams, who are regulars at the state tournament in Murfreesboro every spring, faced each other at Silverdale on March 10 in a game decided on a throwing error in the 10th inning to give the Lady Seahawks a tense 2-1 victory.

Monday's game wasn't nearly as close or as dramatic.

Scoring four runs in the first inning, Baylor improved to 18-7-2 with the 7-2 victory.  Silverdale is now 20-10. 

Baylor is scheduled to host Knoxville Catholic on Tuesday before going to Chattanooga Christian on Thursday for a huge region game before hosting GPS on May 5 in their last regular-season game.  Monday was Silverdale's last game and they are set to host Lakeway Christian on Thursday in region play where the winner advances and the loser is finished for the season.

Baylor coach Kelli Smith has been a part of softball for a long time and has won way more than she's lost, so you can imagine the smile on her face following this latest win.

"We had a tough game at GPS last week, but I'm proud of how we've bounced back.  We got off to a good start today and those four runs in the first were great," she said shortly after her post-game chat with her team.

"Silverdale is a really good team with lots of speed and power, so any time you can jump on them early sort of sets the tone for the rest of the game.  I thought that Adison Wallington had great command of her pitches.  And I'm really proud of Ellison DeMatteo as she's stepped in to catch these last two games and has done an incredible job," the coach praised her battery mates.

"I'm just proud of how we bounced back after that loss at GPS.  We play Catholic here on Tuesday, but the big one is at Chattanooga Christian on Thursday.  And then we still have a big game with GPS next week.  But these girls are starting to put things together at the right time," Smith added.

Silverdale coach Jackie Freeland knew that her team was facing a really tall challenge long before the first pitch had been thrown.

"Baylor is always a great team and that's why we play them because they help us to get better," Freeland began.

"We got down early, but were able to battle back and put the ball in play.  We got shutout in our last game against Gibbs and didn't want that to happen again.  We had a few defensive mistakes, but the bottom line is that we have to hit the ball," she nodded.

The Lady Red Raiders came out swinging and scored four runs in the first on three hits, a walk and two Silverdale errors.  They later added single runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings.

Silverdale scored single runs in the third and fourth, but Baylor starting pitcher Adison Wallington had complete control and was never really in trouble as she finished with a season-high 15 strikeouts while walking three and allowing five hits.

Heidi Bryant led off the Silverdale third with a solid double and went to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly to left by Giana D'Amico.  Then in the fourth, Avery Danz led off with a solo homer down the line in left.  It appeared to be a foul ball, but the umpire called it fair.

Emma Hartline got Baylor started in the first with a one-out walk before advancing on a single by Wallington.  Amiya Leach then doubled to plate Hartline with the first run.  Courtesy runner Addison Reeves scored the second run on a wild pitch while the final two runs for Baylor scored on Silverdale errors.

Wallington slugged a solo homer with two outs and a 3-2 count in the second while Hartline's single to left plated Wrigley Burge, who had led off with an infield single.  Baylor's final run came in the fifth when Chloe Cunningham doubled with one out, advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a another single by Burge.

Burge, Wallington and Leach all had two hits for Baylor as the Lady Raiders finished the day with nine.  Five Lady Seahawks all had one hit apiece, led by the home run by Danz and doubles from Allie Weber and Bryant.

SILVERDALE  001 100 0 – 2 5 3

BAYLOR  410 110 x – 7 9 0

D'Amico, Weber (1) and Williams, Raby (6); Wallington and DeMatteo.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)
Wallington Leads Baylor Past Silverdale, 7-2 - Chattanoogan.com

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