A would-be game tying sacrifice fly for the Indian Land Warriors turned into a game ending double play for the Fort Mill Lady Jackets.
With a runner on third and the Jackets up 10-9, an Indian Land batter flew out to right to Elise Nordgren. She threw the ball to home, but the Indian Land runner beat the tag. However, the umpire said she left third too early and was out giving the Jackets the win.
“After spring break, we have gained a lot of momentum,” said Fort Mill head coach Skyler O’Mara. “We are playing really good defense. Once we put some runs on the board, it allows us to settle in. We have the mentality we need to come in and complete.”
Indian Land went up 1-0 just two batters into the game. Layla Crandall doubled to start the game and Raegan Langborough drove her in on a single. Langborough would score on an error to put the Warriors up 2-0. Logan Thomas drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, as Fort Mill would get out of the first part of the game trailing 3-0.
In the bottom of the first, Nordgren reached on an error for the Jackets and would score on a second Indian Land error later in the inning.
Fort Mill’s Haley Rogers came back in the second inning and settled in. Rogers allowed a walk, but would get out of the inning without allowing a hit.
Rogers led the bottom of the second inning off with a hit and Izzy Zook pushed her to second with another single. Brooke Rosario would get hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out for the Jackets. Lexi Verastegui drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and a third Warriors error allowed Fort Mill to tie the game at three.
Rogers gave up back-to-back singles in the top of the third, but again had her defense back her up to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Fort Mill took the lead with Emily Poteat leading the inning off with a double. Rogers would then drive her in on an RBI single giving the Jackets a 4-3 lead. A fourth Indian Land error scored two more Fort Mill base runners as they went up 6-3 before the Warriors could get out of the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Makenzie McClennen singled and Brooklyn Fairfax walked before Crandall drove in McClennen with a double. Rogers again shut Indian Land down stopping their rally to get out of the inning.
Nordgren reached on another Warriors error, the first of two in opening the bottom half of the inning. Mary Dober then singled in Nordgren. Mallory Moore, who also reached on an error, scored on a wild pitch.
Indian Land’s starter Olivia Miller was replaced by Kelsey Grossman. A wild pitch scored the Jackets ninth run in the game. The Warriors were finally able to get out of the inning with two Fort Mill runners still on base, but trailed 9-4.
Grossman tried to get something going in the fifth inning with a double to start the top of the inning. Back-to-back errors by the Jackets allowed Grossman to score and Riley Murphy, who reached on an error, would also score cutting the Jackets lead to just three.
Fort Mill tried to regain some momentum in the bottom of the fifth as Moore doubled with one out. Poteat drove in Moore with an RBI single, but that was all the Jackets could get in the inning.
Taylor Gross started the inning off with a single for Indian Land in the sixth. That was followed by a double from Fairfax putting two runners on with no outs. Crandall would then walk to load the bases for the Warriors.
A Fort Mill error allowed a run to score with one out. That was followed by a single on a line drive to Rosario who gunned out a runner at home for the second out. The Jackets would get out of the inning with the next batter, but Indian Land cut the Fort Mill lead to 10-8 at that point.
In the bottom of the sixth, Fort Mill’s Natalie Razum reached on the Warriors’ seventh error and made it to third on a single by Verastegui, but the Jackets couldn’t get any insurance runs in the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Indian Land put the first two runners on with back-to-back singles. After an out, a single by Fairfax loaded the bases, before an error by the Jackets allowed a run to score for the Warriors to make it 10-9 and kept the bases loaded.
Poteat led Fort Mill going 2-4 with an RBI and Rogers went 2-3 with an RBI as well. Rogers pitched a complete game allowing nine runs on 14 hits, while walking four and striking out four.
Fort Mill improved to 7-9 on the season and 5-6 in Region 3-5A. They will wrap up region play with Nation Ford on Thursday, May 1.
April 29 Roundup
The Nation Ford boys’ lacrosse team beat Greenville 9-7 to win the 5A Division II Upper State championship. The Falcons improved to 11-7 on the season and will play in their fourth consecutive state lacrosse championship. Nation Ford will play for a state championship on Saturday, May 3 at Irmo High School.
The Catawba Ridge softball team beat Rock Hill 17-0 to improve to 23-0 overall and 11-0 in Region 3-5A. Sarah Rocheleau went 3-3 with six RBIs and Kendra Murray went 2-2 with five RBIs in the win.
The Nation Ford softball team beat Clover 12-3 with Jackie Knol driving in five runs in going 3-3 to lead them. Nation Ford is now 13-7 overall and 6-4 in Region 3-5A.
The Nation Ford boys’ soccer team beat Clover 2-0 to improve to 16-5 overall and 8-3 in Region 3-5A.
The Nation Ford girls’ soccer team beat Clover 2-0 to improve to 18-2-1 overall and 11-0 in Region 3-5A.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
