HOT SPRINGS — Highland pushed across two runs in the top of the fifth here last Wednesday and held Bath County scoreless in the bottom of the inning, pulling out an 18-16 junior varsity softball victory.
Both teams had big third innings with the Rams putting up nine to take a 12-3 and the Chargers answering with 10 in the home half of the inning.
The game was tied 16-all after four.
Colleen Adams and Sarah Liller each had three hits for the winners and Addison Lockridge and Annah Moyers had two apiece. Kristina Neil and Emma Summers both had one hit.
Adams and Lockridge each scored four runs for Highland and Liller drove in four.
Georgia Watkins had three hits for Bath and Trinity Forbes, Bayley Gardzinski, Caleigh Hazelwood, Cassidee Nicely and Ava Whiddon added two apiece. Kiana Williamson had one, as did Embrie Hazelwood and Alyssa Ingram.
Caleigh Hazelwood scored four runs, Nicely and Watkins scored three each and Gardzinski had three RBI for the Chargers.
Liller, Highland’s pitcher, and Nicely, the Chargers’ hurler, recorded five strikeouts each.
Liller punched out two in the bottom of the fifth to preserve the victory for the Rams.
The teams have now played three times with each game being decided by three runs or less.
Highland owns two of the three victories, with the fourth and final match-up on Monday in Monterey.
Highland
The Rams (9-1 Pioneer District, 10-3 overall) stretched their win streak to four games with a sweep of Parry McCluer and a win over Eastern Montgomery.
Highland beat Parry McCluer at home last Thursday, 17-9, whipped Eastern Montgomery at home on Saturday, 12-2, and went to Buena Vista and topped the Fighting Blues, 20-8, on Monday.
Lockridge had a huge day on Thursday with three hits, including two home runs — a grand-slam in the third inning and a three-run shot in the sixth. The eighth-grader drove in seven and scored three times.
Moyers and Ava Summers added two hits for the Rams, while Zalea Good, Adams, Peyton Neil and Kristina Neil all had one hit each. Adams scored three runs.
Liller struck out seven in recording the win in the circle.
In Saturday’s win over East Mont, the Rams scored two runs in the first, four in the second, one in the third and put it away with a five-spot in the bottom of the fourth in a run-rule win.
Liller struck out three in the pitching victory.
Adams, Peyton Neil, Lockridge and Kristina Neil each had one hit for the winners. Lockridge scored three runs and Emma Summers scored twice.
Highland finished its busy stretch of games Monday night with a road win in Buena Vista.
The Rams scored 10 times in the second inning.
Lockridge and Ava Summers led Highland with two hits and Liller, Kristina Neil and Emma Summers had one hit each. Moyers and Peyton Neil both walked three times and scored four runs and Ava Summers scored three times.
Liller struck out four and recorded the pitching win.
Bath County
The Chargers (1-6 Pioneer District, 2-8 overall) went to Craig County last Thursday and lost both ends of a doubleheader to the Rockets, 14-4 and 13-3.
Forbes had two hits in the opener, while Williamson and Embrie Hazelwood added one hit each.
In the second game, Gardzinski had two hits, while Forbes, Watkins and Nicely all had one each. Watkins scored two runs.
Forbes and Nicely both pitched in the opener with Nicely striking out four.
Nicely struck out two and pitched a complete-game in the nightcap.
Bath County hosted Parry McCluer on Tuesday and are at home for a doubleheader with Narrows today. The Chargers finish their season with the trip to Monterey on Monday and a home doubleheader against Eastern Montgomery next Tuesday.