Kora Lykins lays down a sacrifice bunt against Tri-Village in the bottom of the first inning.
Ron Nunnari | The Register-Herald
LEWISBURG — In a key Western Ohio Athletic Conference contest Tri-County North’s softball team suffered its first conference loss of the season Wednesday to Tri-Village, which held on to first place.
The Lady Patriots remain atop the WOAC standings with a 6-0 conference record. Tri-Village suffered its lone loss on March 29 at Versailles, 10-9.
Tri-County North sits in second place along with Arcanum. Both teams are 7-1 in WOAC play.
Wednesday night the Lady Panthers played well with pitcher Kasidi Daugherty keeping Tri-Village off the scoreboard until the top of the fourth inning when sophomore Camryn Osborne belted a home run to right field for a 1-0 advantage.
The Lady Patriots boosted their lead to 3-0 in the top of the sixth inning. Osborne hit a leadoff line drive single to right and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Aereonna Baker drew a walk. Mylee Bierly followed with a bloop single to left to load the bases.
Hailey Burk singled to short to drive in Osborne. Daugherty struck out Kaley Brandon but Emma Cantrell drew a bases load walk to score Baker to put Tri-Village up 3-0.
Lady Patriots’ pitcher Elizabeth Poling kept Tri-County North in check in the sixth and seventh innings to secure the shutout. Poling allowed only three hits, one walk and struck out six to earn the victory.
Tri-County North had its chances. In the bottom of the first Gracie Hemp drew a leadoff walk and Osborne singled to put runners at first and second. Kora Lykins laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Hemp to third and Osborne to second.
Poling worked out of the jamb by striking out Jordan Pinion and got Hannah Webster to ground out to first to end the scoring threat.
Bella Cherry singled in the bottom of the second but was left stranded on base and Daugherty singled in the bottom of the third inning and was also left stranded when the Lady Panthers failed to generate more hits.
Daugherty took the loss. She pitched all seven innings, surrendered nine hits, three earned runs with three walks and seven strike outs.
Tri-Village improved to 11-1 overall and 6-0 in conference play while Tri-County North fell to 7-9 and 7-1 in WOAC play.
Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].
