Colquitt breaks Tift’s softball winning streak

Published 1:00 pm Tuesday, October 11, 2022

TIFTON — Colquitt County has not lost often in 2022 on the softball field. The Lady Packers picked up their 20th win Monday against only three defeats, but had it not been for outstanding defensive work, the Tift County Lady Devils might have delivered loss No. 4.

Colquitt pulled away late, 7-3. The majority of the contest was closer. Tift pulled to 3-2 in the 3rd and were down 5-3 at the end of five innings. The Lady Devils themselves had come in red hot, having won all four of their games last week.

After two quiet innings and 3-0 deficit, Tift County’s bats awoke in the 3rd frame, though the ball hit them first.

Abby Henderson and Ella Bruce were hit by pitches in consecutive at-bats. Loralee Bennett nearly tied the contest with a long shot, but the ballpark barely held it for a noisy out. Bailee Williams walked to load the bases, setting up Gracee Wood for a two-run single, drawing them closer at 3-2.

The Lady Devils seemed poised to at least tie the contest in the 4th, but one of those nifty defensive plays spoiled the effort.

Leadoff hitter Delanie Jewell tripled into the right field corner. There were runners at the corners and no outs when Angie Martinez took a pitch off her back.

Breanna Hernandez laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt, but Colquitt was ready. Pitcher Maris Hopper fielded it and initially looked the runner back to third before firing to first for the out. Tift made a break for it after the throw, but was thrown out at the plate. A runner rounding second tripped trying to get back to the base and the Lady Packers were able to complete a triple play.

Colquitt added two runs in the 5th, Carli Pearson and Duncan scoring. Duncan singled in Pearson after a double to center. Morgan Holder’s base hit brought in Duncan.

Tift got one of those back in the bottom half of the 5th. Bruce earned a one-out walk and Bennett boomed a double to left, making an easy trip home for Bruce.

Insurance came for the Lady Pack in the 6th, courtesy of a two-run homer by Emily Allegood over the fence in left. Libby Wetherington had been on first base at the time.

The Lady Devils were not done scoring Colquitt. Hernandez singled past first to start the bottom of the 7th, but was erased on a 4-6-3 double play. Bruce added a last base hit before Hopper forced a grounder to second for the last out.

Duncan doubled in Allegood for Colquitt’s first run, which came in the 1st inning. Pearson and Madison Plymel became runs No. 2 and 3 in the 2nd.

Emily Rowe pitched a complete game for Tift, striking out 3. Hopper fanned 1.