Lady Raiders clinch share of MAAA title

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

BONNE TERRE — The North County softball team scored four runs while batting around during each of the first two innings on Thursday, and clinched a share of the MAAA Conference crown by shutting out Farmington 11-0.

Katie Gibson finished 3-for-3 with two RBI at the plate, and pitched a two-hitter with six strikeouts for the win, retiring her first nine batters faced. Jennifer Hackworth finished 1-for-1 plus a sacrifice fly for the Lady Raiders.

North County (13-1), which improved to 7-1 overall in league play, can lock up the top seed for the upcoming conference tournament next week with a victory over either Potosi or Central.

The bottom of the first inning began with an error, and the rally developed when Gibson smashed a single off the ankle of third baseman Beth Meyer. A stinging line drive from Jenna Dennison scored C.C. Carron for a 2-0 lead, and Heather Shannon followed with a two-run single.

Farmington (4-9) has already seen its roster decimated by injuries dating back to the off-season, but received more bad news when sophomore Erin Littrell was struck on the pitching hand by a thrown ball from the outfield.

Nicole Broccard took the loss after one inning in the circle, and Katie Currington worked the final three frames with three strikeouts for the Knightettes, who dropped their fourth straight game.

Holly Gallagher highlighted the second for North County with a two-run single that dropped near the left-field line. Brittani O’Connell reached on another error to start the inning, and scored on a Gibson RBI double.

O’Connell crossed the plate a third time to make it 9-0, and singles from Hackworth and Dennison pushed the margin to double figures. Kelsey Hall scored after leading off the fourth with a triple to left.

Dayna Spell made a sliding catch in right field for the first out of the Farmington fifth. That play helped Gibson preserve the shutout, as a strikeout ended the contest with runners at the corners.

Allie Trask and Tayler Benne singled for the Knightettes, who will compete in the Jackson Tournament on Saturday.

Farmington  000 00 - 0  2  4

North County  442 1x - 11 10  1

WP - Gibson 5i 0r 2h 6k 0bb.

LP - Broccard 1i 4r 1er 2h 1k 3bb.

Hitting:

Farmington - Trask 1-2, Benne 1-2.

North County - Gibson 3-3, Hackworth 1-1, Gallagher 1-1, Inman 1-2, Dennison 1-2, Hall 1-3, Shannon 1-3, O’Connell 1-4. 2b - O’Connell, Gibson. 3b - Hall.

Ste. Genevieve 9, Fredericktown 3

STE. GENEVIEVE — Ste. Genevieve picked up its second conference win of the season on Thursday, upending Fredericktown at home, 9-3 behind five strikeouts from junior Leticia Hindrichs.

Lindsey Burgert finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the Hunters. Taylor McMillon and Brittany Uding also had two hits apiece. Ste. Genevieve (4-12) never trailed after scoring twice in the first inning.

Meghan Starkey went 2-for-3 with a double for Fredericktown (7-8).