Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

After rain canceled what was supposed to be their first area game, the Hartselle Lady Tigers opened area play against the Austin Lady Black Bears. Both Hartselle and Austin checked in the top 10 in the first softball rankings, and the game lived up to those top rankings.

Hartselle got on the board first in the first inning. Gracie Poe doubled to drive in Kaitlyn Spangler. Kenzi Parker later scored on an error to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

Austin didn’t get on the board until the fourth inning when Peyton Perkins scored on an error to cut the lead to 2-1. After that, the Black Bears began to really lay it on the Tigers. Austin put two runners on in the fifth when Bria Smiley singled and Ashton Hill reached on a walk. Erin Claborn then blasted a three run home run to put the Black Bears up 4-2. Austin pushed their lead to 6-2 in the sixth when Lexy House hit a two RBI single to drive in Taylor Woods and Asia Garth. Hartselle did manage to get out of the inning by making a wild double play.

Hartselle attempted to get back in the game in the bottom of the sixth by putting Taylor Spangler and Makenzie Jackson on base with just one out. However, a double play ended the inning and sent the Tigers to the seventh down 6-2.

Hartselle recorded three quick pop outs to send the game to the bottom of the seventh. Kylie Winton got on base first with a single and then Kaitlyn Spangler hit a two run bomb to cut the lead to 6-4. Gracie Poe followed that up with a solo shot of her own to cut the lead to 6-5 and suddenly give the Tigers life. However, Hartselle’s comeback attempt would fall short as the Tigers fell to the Black Bears.

Kaitlyn Spangler led the Tigers in hits with three. Spangler and Gracie Poe each had two RBIs for the Tigers. Poe was the game’s losing pitcher. Hartselle outhit Austin 10-6 in the game. Erin Claborn took the win for the Black Bears.