November 25, 2024
Uncategorized

Freshman pitcher Kelsey Watson throws an 11 inning complete game

Altus, OK-  Freshman pitcher Kelsey Watson (Comanche tribe) got the start for the Pioneers and retired the first 11 Connors’ hitters of the game.  The Pioneers got on the board in the bottom of the third inning.  Sophomore second baseman Martha Thomas led off the inning with a double.  A hard ground ball to third off the bat of Emery Fox resulted in an error and allowed Thomas to score.  Western added one more run in the inning when Tori Jones delivered an rbi single to center field to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead.

Freshman pitcher Kelsey Watson threw an 11 inning complete game Saturday against Connors.  Watson also added four hits in the double-header.
Freshman pitcher Kelsey Watson threw an 11 inning complete game Saturday against Connors. Watson also added four hits in the double-header.
Freshman pitcher Kelsey Watson threw an 11 inning complete game Saturday against Connors. Watson also added four hits in the double-header.

Watson continued to cruise as the Cache, OK native did not allow a hit until the sixth inning.  With one out in the sixth, Connors got a single and a walk to put two runners on base.  After a ground out the runners moved up to second and third with two outs.  The Western defense became its own worse enemy at that point..  A passed ball and an error allowed both runners to score on the same play to tie the game at two.

The score would remain the same all the way to the eleventh inning as Watson held the Cowgirls in check for the remainder of the game.  With two outs in the bottom of eleven, Thomas singled to left and then stole second base.  Right fielder Emery Fox then finished the game when she hit the first pitch of the at bat to right field for the game winning rbi single.

Watson (10-0) threw all eleven inning for the Pioneers in her complete game performance.  Watson allowed only six hits and one earned run while striking out seven.  Thomas and Watson led the way offensively for the Pioneers with two hits apiece including a double each.  The Pioneer offense left fourteen base runners on base in the contest.

Game two would prove to be an even poorer performance for the Pioneers.  Sam Betts got the start in the circle and got little support despite a quality pitching effort.  Connors scored one run in the first and the score remained 1-0 till the third.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Pioneers knotted the score up at one.  Freshman catcher Morgan Whatley led the inning off with a single to right field.  Ty Washington followed with a walk.  A ground ball from Thomas moved the runners up one base.  Emery Fox delivered a sacrifice fly to plate pinch-runner Stevie Anderson for the Pioneers first and only run of the contest.

Connors added two more runs in the fourth and three more in the seventh to win 6-1.  Betts (8-3) picked up the loss despite throwing a complete game and allowing only one earned run.  The sophomore also struck out seven.  Morgan Whatley led the Pioneer offense with two hits including a double.  The Pioneer defense committed six errors in the contest contributing to five unearned Cowgirl runs.  Western left eight runners on base in game two.

“We left twenty-two runners on base and committed seven errors today,” said head coach Mike McBrayer.  “We’re lucky to win one game with that performance.  We had two great pitching efforts and almost waisted both of them.  It’s very disappointing to have a day like this in the conference season.”

Western Oklahoma State (19-3, 3-1) will go on the road for a conference double-header Tuesday at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, OK.  First game is scheduled for 1 p.m.

 

QUICK FACTS

The Pioneers home run count is up to 32.  Martha Thomas lead the team with eight and is followed by Emery Fox and Tori Jones with seven and six respectively.

Western has now hit 48 doubles for the season.  Hillary Ratliff, LeNae Sanchez, and Martha Thomas are on top with six apiece while Ty Washington follows with five.

The Pioneers’ pitching staff has fanned 175 hitters in 22 games.  Kelsey Watson leads the team with 88 followed by Samantha Betts with 76.

 

Story @ http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=WOSC&t=c&s=softball&p=newsstory&newsID=9455