Lady Jags 10-run Holy Spirit in home opener, 17-7

The Northridge Lady Jags softball team hosted the Lady Saints from Holy Spirit for their home opener on Tuesday at The Ridge. The two teams had met at Holy Spirit’s tournament over the weekend and played to a 7-7 tie, due to the time limit in play for the tournament. The Lady Jags rallied for 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning, to take a lead and built on that lead to eventually end the game in the sixth inning with a 17-7 victory.

As the visitors, Holy Spirit came to the plate first and, with one out, scored three runs with a 3-run homer to center. Thankfully, Northridge ended the Lady Saints’ scoring at 3-0 by getting the next two batters out. Then, the Lady Jags embarked on a 10-run bottom of the first rally.

Anna Grace Reed led off with a double. Kenzlee Ringo singled, allowing Reed to score (3-1), then stole second. After a fly-out to third, Mary Hayes Henderson singled to bring in Ringo (3-2). Berkley Davis (in as a courtesy runner for pitcher Mary Hayes) stole second. Up next, Sarah Copeland singled, advancing Davis to third. Madelyn Abston followed with a double to left, scoring Davis which tied the game at 3-3. Riley Hollingshead singled to center, allowing Copeland to score (4-3) and Abston to advance to second. After the second out, Abston stole third and Hollingshead took second without a throw. Caroline Pate then singled to left, scoring Abston and Hollingshead (6-3). In her second at-bat of the inning, Reed doubled to left, scoring Pate (7-3). Ringo’s second turn at the plate resulted in a single to third that allowed Reed to advance to third. Anna Cate Henderson benefitted from an error and ended up at second, with Reed scoring (8-3) and Ringo making it to third. Mary Hayes Henderson’s second single of the inning scored Ringo (9-3) and Anna Cate Henderson (10-3). The Lady Jags loaded the bases on a Copeland single and Abston being hit by a Lady Saints’ pitch. The next at-bat resulted in line drive that was caught for the third out of the bottom of the first inning.

Northridge held the Lady Saints off the scoreboard in the second inning, getting a strikeout then a double play. The Lady Jags added another five runs, all with tow out, in the bottom of the second to take a 15-3 lead. After the first out, Pate doubled to left. Following the second out, Ringo drew a walk. Anna Cate Henderson followed with a single to center. An error allowed Anna Cate to make it all the way to third, with Pate and Ringo scoring to make the score 12-3. Next up, Mary Hayes Henderson singled to score Anna Cate and extend the lead to 13-3. Copeland singled to move Davis (running for Mary Hayes) to second. Abston singled to load the bases for the Lady Jags. Hollingshead singled to drive in Davis (14-3) and advance Copeland and Abston. Millie Tucker followed wit ha single to third, allowing Copeland to score the final run of the inning for Northridge, resulting in the 15-3 lead after two complete innings.

The Lady Saints threatened a comeback when they tacked on three runs in the top of the third inning and another in the top of the fourth to close the Northridge lead to 15-7. However, after a quiet inning and a half, the Lady Jags added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the 10-run rule and claim victory. A fly-out started the bottom of the sixth for Northridge. Mary Hayes Henderson drew a walk to start things in motion for the Lady Jags. Copeland singled and Davis, in for Mary Hayes, reached third base, with Copeland advancing to second. Abston reached on a passed ball on strike three to load the bases. Hollingshead singled to score Davis (16-7), with all other runners advancing one base. Tucker was out on a grounder to second, but the play allowed Copeland to score, giving the Lady Jags the 10-run lead to end the game at 17-7.

Northridge totaled 21 hits on the evening. Copeland led the Lady Jags at the place, going 4-for-5 on the evening. Mary Hayes Henderson, Hollingshead and Pate totaled three hits each. Reed, Ringo and Abston collected two hits apiece. Anna Cate Henderson and Tucker finished with one hit each.

Ringo and Copeland crossed the plate three times each for Northridge. Reed, Anna Cate Henderson and Pate scored two runs each. Abston and Hollingshead scored one run apiece.

Mary Hayes Henderson tallied four RBIs with Hollingshead and Pate collecting three RBIs each. Tucker and Pate recorded two RBIs apiece. Reed, Ringo and Abston were credited with one RBI each.

Mary Hayes Henderson completed six innings in the circle and got the win. She struck out two and issued six walks, while allowing seven runs on seven hits.