Published: May 13, 2008 12:17 am            

Ashland gets by rival Boyd in tight one

Miller fights out of jam in final inning; Kittens claim 20th win of season

CANNONSBURG — Ashland picked up its 20th win of the season, escaping Boyd County 5-3 in a tight game on Monday night.

“It really got pressure-packed there in the seventh inning, but I thought we handled it well,” Ashland coach Dave Miller said.

The Lady Lions (16-14) trailed by three heading into the bottom of the seventh but were able to push across a run and keep the bases loaded with no outs.

However, Ashland pitcher Katelyn Miller and first baseman Lauren Cannoy answered the call.

Miller, pitching in relief of Jordan Smith, who left early in the bottom of the seventh, entered the game with two runners on and no outs.

“I really wanted (Smith) to have a complete game, but I think defense let her down a little bit,” Dave Miller said. “We just weren’t going to let something slip away from us and Katelyn was fresh, so we just let her come in and close it out.”

Boyd County’s Catie Wamsley chopped a 1-1 pitch from Miller up the middle but the throw to get the runner going to second was not in time, loading up the bases. Sarah Smith then hit into a fielder’s choice at third, but the throw to the catcher was dropped at the plate as Kaitlin Brown came in to score with the bags still full.

Miller then threw six straight strikes to fan a pair of batters. Boyd County had one last shot, but the full-count pitch lined out into Cannoy’s glove to end the game.

“That’s the best we’ve played (against Ashland) in our three meetings,” Boyd County coach Geoff Stewart said. “The thing I liked about us was we didn’t give up. We fought for everything that we could and gave a great effort”

Ashland (20-7) manufactured three runs in the top of the third to get the scoring going. Meanwhile, the defense was holding Boyd County at bay, either retiring the side or cutting off lead runners and stranding several on the bags. The Kittens added a run in the fifth for a 4-0 lead.

The Lady Lions offense got a spark in the bottom of the sixth. Samantha Clevenger (2-for-4) drove in a pair of runs with a two-out single to right.

Ashland got one more run via an error in the top of the seventh.

“We were just playing for one run there,” Dave Miller said. “We just wanted to get another insurance run and make them have to string quiet a few hits together to beat us.”

Rachel Amburgey led the Kittens, going 3-for-4 from the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.

Smith went six-plus innings, giving up three earned runs off 10 hits and struck out five batters to pick up the win. She issued just one walk to the last of 30 batters she faced, throwing 103 pitches in the game.

“Jordan did a real good job of pitching out of trouble. She just took it upon herself to get us out of trouble,” Miller said.

Three Boyd County pitchers worked in the game, combining to strike out seven batters, walk five and give up four earned runs off eight hits.

Emily Pennington led Boyd’s offense with a 3-for-3 performance.

“We hit the ball better but we just couldn’t get the key hit or the key bunt with runners in scoring position,” Stewart said. “We left 11 runners on base and that’s too many.

The Lady Lions opened Monday evening with a 5-0 shutout of visiting West Carter. Kayla Caudill and Caitlin Coburn, who also pitched in the nightcap, combined to strike out 10 West Carter batters and give up four hits.



ASHLAND 003 010 1 — 5 8 1

BOYD CO. 000 002 1 — 3 11 1

Smith, Miller (7) and Amburgey; Caudill, Garvin (4), Coburn (6) and Smith. W — Smith, L — Caudill. 2B: Amburgey (A), H. Stewart (BC).



WEST CARTER 000 000 0 — 0 4 4

BOYD CO. 203 000 x — 5 5 1

Burton and Cox; Caudill, Coburn (5) and Smith, Brown (6). W — Caudill, L — Burton. 2B: Clevenger (BC).

        

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