CHARLESTON, Tenn. -- The Walker Valley Lady Mustangs made up for last years' softball loss to Boyd-Buchanan with an impressive come-from-behind victory over the Lady Buccaneers by a 4-2 margin on a cold and cloudy day at Larry Haney Field.
Karly Blackwell broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run blast that proved to be the game winner for the Feisty Fillies.
Junior Ryann Presswood settled in to get the win working seven innings out of the circle. She struck out three, Lady Bucs, walked a single batter and gave up four hits that included a pair of home runs.
“She pitched a really good game. She found her groove for sure,” said head Filly Lauren Limburg. “Her pitches were moving. She's done really gret for us all year and I'm just really proud her tonight.
Kiley Elliott took the hard luck loss for Boyd giving up seven hits in six innings pitched. Elliott gave up no free passes while fanning nine Lady Mustangs. She gave up one homer to Blackwell. Elliott sat down nine straight batters before Walker Valley broke up the hitless streak in the fourth.
“That was a great win. Boyd-Buchanan is always a great, tough team. They have some great hitters and their pitcher did a really good job tonight. I was just really proud of our girls continuing to fight,” said Limburg. “That first time through the lineup, we didn't look our best. But, keep fighting and to keep persevering and finding ways to get on base during the second and third time through the lineup, I was really proud of our girls for continuing to fight.
Boyd-Buchanan put the first run on the board in the top of the second as Gracie Petty lifted a blast over the center-field fence. Elliott made it 2-0 with a first pitch homer to right-center.
The Lady Mustangs countered in the lower portion of the fourth as Blackwell
opened with a double to right field before standing on third after a passed ball. Alyssa Davenport made it a 2-1 game with a sacrifice fly to center.
Walker Valley kept the run going in the sixth as Blackwell reached on an error and moved to second on a Amy Benson sacrifice bunt. Davenport cut the score to 3-2 Mustangs with a solid shot the landed behind the left-field fence.
“That was a great hit by Alyssa,” Limburg praised. “She works incredibly hard, incredibly hard. I was really proud to see her get that hit in that big moment.”
The Lady Mustangs added one more run before the final out on an Addison Woodall infield hit. She scored two batters later when Madison Thomas pushed an RBI single just past the second base bag that gave Walker Valley the winning 4-2 margin.
Presswood and company sat the Lady Bucs down in order in the top of the seventh to close out the win.
Walker Valley committed no errors earning praise from Limburg.
Our defense. I can't say enough about our defense. Our infield defense was incredibly sharp tonight. They made some really great plays look routine,” she said. “It was a complete team win. Everybody contributed and we're excited to go to Kingsport this weekend and play in a really tough tournament.”
The Lady Mustangs travel to Kingsport for tournament softball Friday. They return to the district schedule Tuesday at Rhea County.
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BOYD BUCHANAN
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WALKER VALLEY
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Elliott and Johnson; Presswood and Oran.
WP: Presswood LP: Elliott
Records: Boyd Buchanan 9-8; Walker Valley 13-2.
(Email Richard Roberts at richardvol55@yahoo.com)