The Tigers claw back
Hillman completes wild comeback, sweeps Au Gres
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HILLMAN -- Early on this season, the Hillman softball team has shown it can score runs in bunches.
After falling behind in the early in game one of a doubleheader against Au Gres on Monday, the Tigers were forced to do just that and erased a seven run deficit to defeat the Wolverines 11-10 in game one and turned in a solid performance in the nightcap, winning 7-2 to sweep Au Gres.
"It was great to see the girls make a comeback, that's huge mentally for them to fall behind and get the key hits at the right time so I'm proud of them for that," Hillman coach Ken Rundell said. "Overall, once the girls got going tonight, they played some good ball."
Au Gres opened the scoring early with a pair of RBI singles from Amelia Freehling and Madison Findlay to take a 2-0 lead.
Despite not having her best stuff on the mound, Hillman's Bailey Schook had a nice day at the plate. She got Hillman's offense started in the bottom of the first as she hit a one-out double, stole third base and then scored Hillman's lone run in the first.
Au Gres continued to swing the hot bat early in the game, tacking on three runs in the second and three more in the third after holding Hillman scoreless in the second to take a 8-1 lead.
The Tigers answered back in the home half of the third as they batted around the order to score five runs. Alison Samp started the rally with a solo home run. Lyndsey Ryba followed that with a double and later scored on a double from Eve LaFleche. Andrea Taratuta reached on an error and Jozie Appelgren was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Briley Tyler came up huge with a bases-clearing double to knock in three and cut the deficit to two.
Taratuta relieved Schook in the third inning and did her job, slowing down the Wolverines who were held to just two runs the rest of the game. They scored one in the fourth to extend the lead to three.
For the second consecutive inning, Hillman batted around and scored five more runs to take an 11-9 lead after four innings. Ryba, Schook and LaFleche started the inning with three hits in a row and all came across to score. Appelgren collected an RBI walk and Tyler drove in two more runs with a single to give the Tigers an 11-9 lead.
Hillman held the Wolverines scoreless in the fifth and Taratuta struck out Olivia Verdusco looking with runners on second and third to end the game.
Tyler was 3-for-3 with two doubles and five RBI. Schook added two hits, scored twice, stole a base and drove in a run. Ryba and LaFleche each collected two hits and scored twice.
"Every game we're having different girls step up and hit the ball hard. We just seem to be getting the key hits when we need them so that's really exciting and hopefully we're able to keep it going," Rundell said.
The nightcap was a much cleaner game for the Tigers as they made plays defensively and continued to swing the bats well.
Au Gres opened with a run in the top of the first, but McKenna Hiveley settled in and finished the game pitching all six innings, allowing just two runs on four hits and struck out four in to earn the win.
Once again Hillman was quick to respond as it tied the game in the home half of the first when Ryba led off with a walk and scored on sacrifice fly off the bat of LaFleche.
For the third time on the day Hillman batted around, sending nine to the plate in the second inning as it scored four runs to take a 5-1 lead. Appelgren and Tyler started the inning with back-to-back hits, Hiveley drew a walk and later scored on a wild pitch. Schook singled home Appelgren and LaFleche singled in Tyler and Schook to give the Tigers a four run lead after two innings.
Au Gres added one run in the third, but it was all it scored the rest of the way as Hiveley threw strikes and Hillman's defense played strong behind her. The sophomore plenty of run support too as they added a run in both the third and fifth inning to complete the doubleheader sweep.
LaFleche led the Tigers offensively, going 2-for-2 with three RBI. Schook collected three hits, scored a run and drove in one and Tyler added a hit, a walk, scored two runs and stole two bases.
Hillman improves to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in North Star League play.
The Tigers travel to Alcona for a doubleheader today and return home to host Rogers City on Wednesday.