CHS softball blasts MSM

By Zach Hayes and Zack O'Neal
UCA sportswriting

The Conway Lady Cats got another 7A-Central conference win at home last night against Mount St. Mary in a 12-2 shortened six-inning game.

The run-rule victory moves the Lady Cats to even in the conference at 4-4 and 6-14 overall. They’re now just one conference win away from clinching the third spot in the standings, CHS coach Chad Longing said. It was their second win over MSM after a 6-5 victory earlier in the season.

The Lady Cats took advantage of the Belles' pitching struggles by scoring four runs in the first inning and six in the fourth and closed the game in the sixth with two runs. Through five innings, 18 Lady Cats reached base off walks and one reached on a hit batsman. They had totaled just two hits before ending the game in the sixth, one by Morgan Setzler in the first and one by Hannah Cooper in the fourth. Cooper was also the winning pitcher for the Lady Cats.

“They struggled with control,” Longing said “And we really benefited from that early. A lot of times when the other team is not in the zone, it’s hard to dig in there and really have a feel at the plate. So we hung in there, did what we could do offensively, great pitching from Hannah Cooper. She just sticks it in there and let her defense work. That’s exactly what our game plan is.”

Longing praised Cooper’s performance.

"She’s really stepped up and said she wants the ball in her hands,” he said.

Lady Cat Cheyenne Kuhn also praised the pitching.

"That's where we’ve really been struggling” she said.

After being down 4-0 through three innings, the Belles fought their way back in the third, scoring two runs by Annie Quick and Cheyanne Harper to cut into the lead. The Lady Cats responded by batting around in the next inning and scoring six runs, earning half of them.

Brooks started the Lady Cat inning with a walk. After a fly-out, first baseman Taylor Kuhn also walked. Cooper managed to load the bases on an error by the shortstop. Two more walks led to another two runs for the Lady Cats. Center fielder Jordan Yandell batted in two runs with a line drive to right field.

With two runners remaining on base, Belles walked two more batters, giving the Lady Cats another run.

At Brooks’ second at-bat of the inning, the Belles made a pitcher change back to pitcher Nicki Sanders, their starter. Brooks drove in the last run of the inning as she was thrown out from her hit.

“With this wind blowing today, we hit several fly balls that might have had the chance to leave the yard if the wind wasn’t blowing too hard, but perfect,” Longing said. “It worked out for fly balls and we come away with a big win.”

The Belles outnumbered the Lady Cats in hits, 3-2. Brooks and Yandell split the hits.

“I think our hitting was better in the last game,” Cooper said. “We could’ve approached the plate better this game, but we still got it done. I think if we stay calm, we would handle it better,” Cooper said. “I think it’s mainly nerves because want to strive to be no errors and stuff, but I think we did good anyway.”

CHS loaded the bases through the first five innings, helping achieve that run total. The Lady Cats were unable to capitalize in every situation, however, leaving runners stranded in every inning, including the second, third and fifth innings when they left them loaded.

Longing said he was glad to get the victory but added, “It’s been a tough year besides wins and losses.”

With this conference victory, the Lady Cats are now 6-14 and 4-4 in the 7A Central conference. They play in Cabot Thursday.

What would it take for the Lady Cats to advance to the Class 7A State Tournament?

"Just hit, have good pitching and make sure our defense is there," Kuhn said.

MSM 002 000 – 2 3 2
CHS 400 602 – 12 2 1

Sanders, Quick (1), Sanders (4) and Harper; Cooper and Gould.