Walnut shocks Lady Eagles in seventh

Proving that no lead is safe, Walnut’s late game surge was enough to top West Union, 6-3, on Tuesday.
The Lady Eagles built a 3-0 lead, starting in the second frame. Hannah McQuary opened a with a  walk and advanced to third on Gina Beth Conlee’s double. With runners in scoring position, Grace Rutledge’s sacrifice play scored the game’s first run.
West Union added two runs in the fourth, as Dani Taylor opened the inning with a triple and scored on a single by Leah Paige Goolsby. With one out, Bailey Bogue brought in a run off her triple.
Held to only three hits in the final three innings, West Union watched as the Lady Wildcats heated up in the sixth with two hits.
In the seventh, Walnut opened with a single and walk and loaded the bases on an error. The Lady Wildcats scored their first run off a walk and tied the game on another. A sacrifice play and an error put Walnut ahead and the pressure on the Lady Eagles.
McQuary leadoff the seventh with a single and Conlee recorded her second double of the game, placing runners in scoring position, but a double play ended West Union’s chances of a comeback.
Conlee was the lone player for West Union with multiple hits. Ashley Whitington started the game as the pitcher, allowing only one hit until the sixth inning. Closing out games is something head coach Lisa Bogue wants to work on before opening division play.
“She (Whitington) starts out great, but her endurance is just not there. We’re going to do whatever it takes to get her to where she needs to be,” Bogue said.
“The defense is clicking right along. We just didn’t get the timely hits we needed as the game went along. Hopefully we can fix that.”
West Union will host Hickory Flat before playing in the Robertson’s Sportswear Tournament this weekend at the Sportsplex.

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