By Kyle Dean/Sports Editor
TIFTON — Brooke Keen pitched a complete game shutout and Rachel Lindsey added two hits and an RBI as Tiftarea defeated Sherwood Christian Academy by an 8-0 score Monday in Chula.
With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 4-1 in region play and 14-5 overall.
Keen carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning but with two outs, a Lady Eagle reached on a swinging bunt. Catcher Courtney Albritton did her best to throw the Sherwood runner out, but her throw bounced off the helmet of the Sherwood batter and into right field.
But Keen got the next batter on a flyout to center to end the threat.
With a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, Katy Johnson sent a ball into the left-center field gap. Johnson hustled into third for a leadoff triple. Albritton then hit a sharp grounder to third, but the fielder could not handle the chance, scoring Johnson. Albritton then stole second, and Rebekah Joyner’s dribbler in front of the catcher, was overthrown allowing Albritton to score — and the game suddenly ended on the mercy rule.
Tiftarea got on the scoreboard in the third inning. After a leadoff double by Albritton, Lakyn Souter drove her in on a triple to the gap in left-center field. Lindsey then singled in Souter to give the Lady Panthers a 2-0 lead after three innings.
Tiftarea sent eight batters to the plate in a three-run fifth inning in support of Keen.
Albritton sent another ball to the fence for a triple to lead off the inning and the throw into third was wild, allowing Albritton to score the third run of the game for Tiftarea.
Joyner reached first on an error by the left fielder, and advanced to third on a Souter groundout. After a Lindsey ground out, Heather Kelly and Rebekah Davis each reached on consecutive errors — allowing Lindsey to score.
Up 4-0, Keen doubled to score Souter and Kelly from second and third base.
Keen had a great pitching performance in the circle. She allowed one hit and no runs while striking out four and walking one. She faced two batters over the minimum in the complete game win.
Along with Lindsey, Albritton added two hits and an RBI, Souter reached base twice as did Joyner.
