Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By: Casey Roberts

Contributing Writer

 

The Lady Patriots endured a frustrating loss to Garrard County on April 21 but responded with late-game heroics in a dramatic 7-6 walk-off victory against McCreary Central on April 28.

Lincoln fell 2-1 to Garrard in a tightly contested game that was decided by a fifth-inning error. After jumping ahead in the first on a double from Halle Siler that brought in a run, the Lady Patriots were held scoreless the rest of the way. Garrard evened the game in the third, capitalizing on a defensive miscue, and plated the go-ahead run two innings later in similar fashion.

Despite the loss, Trinity Price delivered a solid performance in the circle for Lincoln. She pitched all six innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits, striking out three and walking one. Defensively, the Lady Patriots turned a double play to end an early threat.

Siler and Autumn Durham each collected a hit for Lincoln. Siler’s first-inning RBI stood as the team’s lone run, as Garrard’s pitching proved dominant, striking out 17 Lincoln batters in a complete game effort.

Seven days later, Lincoln flipped the script.

Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Patriots stunned McCreary Central with a two-run, inside-the-park home run by Madilyn Wade to seal the walk-off win.

Lincoln opened the scoring in the first inning after a pair of errors and a lineout by Wade helped push three runs across. McCreary responded gradually, scoring six unanswered runs through the sixth, aided by a series of Lincoln miscues and aggressive baserunning.

Down to their final three outs, the Lady Patriots found life when Raelee Lawson ripped a double down the left field line, tying the game after Cassidy reached base. Wade then followed with her game-winning drive, circling the bases as the home crowd erupted.

Wade and Lawson each drove in two runs. Lawson, Wade, and Madison Cassidy accounted for Lincoln’s three hits on the day, but it was plate discipline that kept them in the game. The Lady Patriots drew eight walks, with Price, Cassidy, and Hailee Elmore each earning two.

Price once again took the ball and earned the win. She tossed seven innings, allowing five hits and six runs — only one of which was earned — while striking out four and walking none.

Lincoln’s offense made the most of limited contact, converting opportunities in key moments. Meanwhile, their ability to stay patient at the plate helped set up the final-inning comeback.