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Bulldog softball stays hot in sweep of Troy

By Justin Nutter - | Apr 17, 2012

Justin Nutter

Konner Patterson waits on a ball at first base. Patterson had three hits and three RBI in McLouth's sweep of Troy.

? For the fifth time in six tries this season, the McLouth High softball team has sent an opponent home with back-to-back losses.

The Bulldogs (11-1) kept the momentum in their favor Tuesday with a two-game sweep of Delaware Valley League opponent Troy. They extended their current win streak to seven games with 11-1 and 5-1 victories.

The wins were the team’s third and fourth in two days, including Monday’s pair of victories at Atchison County Community High School.

“I was happy with the way we played,” coach Ballard Patterson said. “I didn’t like the way we flattened out at the end of (Tuesday’s) second game, but we were on our fourth game in 27 or 28 hours. That wore on us a little bit.”

Senior pitcher Kendra Leach (6-1) kept the Trojans off the scoreboard for the first three innings of the opener, and the MHS offense backed her with two runs each in the first and third. Troy got runners on the corners with nobody out in the fourth, but only managed one run.

Patterson’s squad blew the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the frame. Sophomores Konner Patterson and Amber McCowan each had two-run singles in the inning. The mercy rule went into effect after the fifth.

Konner Patterson went 3-for-3 in the contest, including two doubles and three runs batted in.

“We hit the ball well,” Ballard Patterson said. “Konner got loose on three nice, solid hits with runners on.”

Leach went the distance, striking out eight hitters.

Freshman pitcher Angela Dailey (5-0) retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced in the nightcap, and the Bulldog offense continued to produce. MHS scored one in the first and three in the second to grab an early 4-0 lead.

Troy broke through in the fourth when a runner scored on a defensive error. The run was the first by an opponent with Dailey pitching this season, but it was recorded as unearned because of the error.

Dailey threw all seven innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six. She now has a 0.00 earned run average through 33 innings this season.

“They’re going to go out and pitch to the system,” Ballard Patterson said of the Bulldog pitchers. “To them, it’s just wind it up and let go what’s called. All you’ve got to worry about is your speed and location.”

MHS added one more run in the fourth for the final margin of victory. Senior Emily Welsh went 3-for-3, while fellow senior Morgan Drinnon went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Bulldogs will have nearly a week off before their next action. They’ll hit the road April 23 for a doubleheader at Valley Falls.

“We’re going to recuperate,” Ballard Patterson said. “That’s the biggest thing is getting some rest and taking some time to get our feet back under us.”

Game 1

Troy 000 10X X — 1

McLouth 202 70X X — 11

Leading hitters: Konner Patterson 3-3, 2 2B, 3 RBI; Amber McCowan 1-2, 3 RBI.

Game 2

Troy 000 100 0 — 1

McLouth 130 100 0 — 5

Leading hitters: Emily Welsh 3-3, Morgan Drinnon 2-3, RBI.