Lady Mt’neers pound Lady Eagles

The Lady Mt’neers softball squad improved to 15-1 on the season after shutting out Marionville, 8-0, last Monday, and putting a beat down on Purdy, 12-4, Thursday night.
The Lady Mt’neers went down in order to begin the game Thursday. In the bottom of the first inning, Mt. Vernon began to struggle in the field as a leadoff walk followed by an error allowed Purdy to get a two-run single to open the game. The bats of Mt. Vernon weren’t quiet for long as one of the super sophomores Rae Downing tripled to set up an RBI single from fellow sophomore Cheyenne Bieber. The youth of the Lady Mt’neers continued to play beyond their age as freshman Hali Stokes would do as Downing did and tripled to right field to tie the game at two. Junior Ally Burk gave the Lady Mt’neers a 3-2 lead after the top of the second inning.
Pitching dominated the next two innings as senior star Harley Daniels would get five of her 13 strikeouts in the next nine batters. She worked around a bases loaded no one out jam in the bottom of the third inning. Daniels would strike out the side in the fourth inning, but a solo home run, a walk and a double gave Purdy a 4-3 advantage after four innings.
Mt. Vernon responded much like they have all year as sophomore Molly Daniels hit a sac fly to plate the tying run. After a fly-out gave the Lady Mt’neers two outs in the inning, players came up big with a pair of singles and doubles by Harley Daniels and Bieber, busted open an 8-4 advantage for the Lady Mt’neers. This would be all the Lady Mt’neers needed but would tack on four more runs for good measure to defeat Purdy 12-4.
Mt. Vernon tallied 12 runs on 14 hits in a game where all nine starters recorded a hit and four had a multi-hit performance. Stokes led the way with three hits and three RBI’s and a triple. Harley Daniels was magnificent once again on the mound tossing seven innings, allowing just one earned run and 13 strikeouts. Even more impressive, Daniels lowers her season ERA to a miniscule 1.23 with 89 strikeouts in just 74 innings of work.
The top ranked Lady Mt’neers will be busy once again this week as they traveled to Pierce City, Monday before returning to Spirit of ’76 Park, Tuesday against Fair Grove. After an off day Wednesday, they have Buffalo at home on Thursday, and a pair of double headers at home on Friday and Saturday. Friday they will take on East Newton and Hollister starting at 5 p.m. and Saturday will be Lamar and Springfield Catholic starting at 12:45 p.m.