By ROCKY STANLEY - The Independent
FLATWOODS
Sat, May 17 2008
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Russell junior Bryanna Gullett missed on one golden opportunity.
She wasn’t about to let it happen twice.
Gullett’s opposite-field single with the bases loaded in the eighth inning lifted the Lady Devils past Ashland 3-2 on Friday night.
Two innings before, Gullett struck out with runners on second and third and nobody out. Russell failed to score in the inning and the teams remained deadlocked 2-2 until the eighth.
“I watched that third strike and the next time knew I couldn’t leave the runners stranded,’’ Gullett said. “I had to put the ball in play.’’
Gullett’s liner to right field with no outs allowed Kelsey Simpson to cruise in from third base with the deciding run. Simpson, who prevailed in a pitching battle with Ashland freshman Katelyn Miller, started the winning rally with a bunt single and stole second.
After Samantha Sparks walked, Molly Baldridge successfully chopped the ball to the right side and Ashland couldn’t get an out on the play.
That set the stage for Gullett. Her hit gave the Lady Devils their third victory in three days and a regular-season sweep of 17-game winner Ashland.
“This was a tight game all the way through,’’ Gullett said. “We stepped up against our rival and made key plays. This will definitely give us a boost.’’
Russell improved to 16-7 as Simpson and her teammates worked out of jams in the final three innings.
Ashland came away empty-handed after leadoff doubles from Allie Osborne and Miller in the sixth and seventh innings. Gullett, the Lady Devils’ second baseman, made a strong relay throw from short right field to catcher Katie Ferry to nail Miller, who was trying to score after a Russell error in the outfield.
“I was screaming at our center fielder to get up and get the ball in,’’ Gullett said. “I gunned it and Katie was there to make the tag.’’
Ashland threatened again in the eighth inning, loading the bases with out on a walk, Jessie Griffith’s single and a Russell miscue. But Simpson came up with a strikeout and Ferry later made a strong pickoff throw to third base for the third out.
“Kelsey made some big pitches and we have an awesome defense that saved us tonight,’’ said Russell coach Ron Osborn. “The pickoff at third base was beautiful.’’
Simpson went the distance and Russell held Ashland scoreless over the final seven innings.
“The game fell into a pattern of both teams making plays and pitching out of trouble,’’ said Ashland coach Dave Miller. “We definitely had our chances. It seemed like we stung the ball at people all night.’’
Allie Osborne accounted for half of Ashland’s hits with a double and two singles.
Ashland picked up two runs in the first inning on a throwing error and Rachel Amburgery’s sacrifice fly.
Russell tied it in the second as Brittnee Iddings doubled home a run and scored on Ginny Ferguson’s bunt. Iddings also hit a double off the base of the fence in the fourth inning but was left stranded at third.
“This is a real momentum-builder for us, getting ready for districts,’’ Ron Osborn said. “Ashland is an excellent team.’’
Katelyn Miller held Russell to two hits through seven innings and finished with five strikeouts.
“We got a great pitching performance from Katelyn and I don’t think she was on her `A’ game,’’ said Ashland’s coach. ``Give Russell a lot of credit. They really scrambled and clawed.’’
ASHLAND 200 000 00 — 2 6 3
RUSSELL 020 000 01 — 3 4 3
Miller and Amburgey; Simpson and Ferry. W—Simpson. L—Miller. 2B—A. Osborne (A), Miller (A), Iddings 2 (R).
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