Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

Fresh off a defeat by them in the Morgan County championship, the Hartselle Lady Tigers had the seventh ranked Austin Lady Black Bears on the ropes in what was the final scheduled meeting between the two teams before the area tournament. However, much like they have done all season, the Lady Black Bears showed that no game is over until it’s over.

Hartselle dominated the first half of the game as they kept the Black Bears on their heels. The Tigers got on the board first in the top of the third thanks to a leadoff double from Kylie Winton and an RBI sacrifice fly from Gracie Poe.

Hartselle tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning. Kalli Cartee started the inning with a leadoff single and then Kaitlyn Spangler drove her in with an RBI double. Taylor Spangler added to that with an RBI single to drive her sister in. Hartselle finished the inning with another RBI from Gracie Poe to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead.

Austin got back on track in the bottom of the fourth. After two walks to start the inning, Erin Claborn drove in Bria Smiley with an RBI single. A fielder’s choice later allowed Morgan Love to score and cut Hartselle’s lead to 4-2. Austin cut the lead even shorter in the fifth thanks to an RBI double from Smiley to drive in Lexy House.

The Black Bears tied the game in the sixth thanks to a leadoff homer from Kelsey Self. A two run shot from Brylee Yarbrough put the Bears ahead for good as Austin finished the game with six unanswered runs to win 6-4.

Erin Claborn got the win for Austin. Claborn allowed nine hits and four runs with two strikeouts in seven innings pitched. Bria Smiley led the team with two hits while Brylee Yarbrough led with two RBIs.

Morgyn Sparkman took the loss for Hartselle. She gave up one hit and two runs in one inning pitched. Gracie Poe pitched most of the game for the Tigers. She gave up five hits and four runs with three strikeouts in five innings pitched. Kalli Cartee and Kylie Winton led the Tigers with three and two hits respectively.