FORT RECOVERY – The Versailles softball team moved its record above .500 by run ruling Fort Recovery 16-1 in five innings on Thursday.
Versailles out-hit Fort Recovery 14 to five in the game and committed no errors while Fort Recovery made four.
“Over I was very pleased with how they played,” Versailles softball coach Mechelle Heitkamp said of her team’s play. “They adjusted well to the different pitcher, ran the bases well, and I thought our defense was pretty solid today.”
The Tigers scored in four of the five innings on Thursday, only failing to score in the opening frame.
In the second Versailles got its offense going beginning with a leadoff walk to Hailey McEldowney. Lauren Heitkamp then drilled a RBI double to center, putting the Tigers up 1-0.
Versailles increased its lead to 2-0 with a RBI single by Cori Lawrence. The Versailles sophomore advanced to second on a wild pitch and went to third when Fort Recovery had to throw to first to a dropped third strike. She then scored on another wild pitch, making it 3-0 in favor of the Tigers.
Versailles scored three more runs in the third to make it a 6-0 game.
Kami McEldowney reached on an error, and then Aimee Powell hit a two-run homer to increase the Versailles lead to 5-0.
Versailles quickly loaded the bases with a single by Hailey McEldowney, a walk to Ashlee Voisard and a single by Lauren Heitkamp. Lawrence then hit a sacrifice fly to left, driving in Hailey McEldowney and putting the Tigers up 6-0.
Fort Recovery scored its lone run of the game in the bottom of the third.
Tori Vaughn hit a two-out single and scored on a double by Devin Post to get the Indians on the scoreboard.
After giving up a run, Versailles responded with its biggest inning of the day in the fourth.
Langston reached base and advanced all the way to second on a pair of Fort Recovery errors to lead off the inning. Kami McEldowney then doubled to drive in Langston, Sarah Gigandet singled to drive in Kami McEldowney, and Powell doubled to drive in Gigandet and make it 9-1.
After Hailey McEldowney reached on an error, Voisard hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Powell and increase the lead to 10-1. Lawrence and Brynna Blakeley then both drove in runs with singles, increasing the Tiger advantage to 12-1.
Versailles continued its offensive onslaught in the fifth inning with four more runs.
Kami McEldowney started off with an infield single then Gigandet walked and Powell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Voisard singled to drive in two runs, Danielle Poor singled to drive in one, and Lawrence hit into a fielder’s choice to bring in one more and make it 16-0.
Versailles then set down Fort Recovery in order in the bottom of the fifth to win 16-1 in five innings.
Lauren Heitkamp earned the win for Versailles as she pitched the complete game, allowing one run on five hits, no walks and six strikeouts.
“Lauren started off hitting her spots well,” Coach Heitkamp said. “She struggled just a bit, but overall I thought they played well. Defense looked pretty solid today.”
Kami McEldowney led the Versailles offense with three hits, going 3-for-4 with a double, a RBI and three runs scored. Powell went 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch, collecting a home run, a double, two RBIs and three runs. Lawrence went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs. Lauren Heitkamp was 2-for-3 with a double.
Voisard was 1-for-2 with a walk and three RBIs. Hailey McEldowney was 1-for-3 with a walk and three runs. Gigandet went 1-for-3 with a walk, a RBI and two runs. Blakeley was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run. Poor was 1-for-1 with a RBI. Langston and Kate Stammen both scored a run.
Versailles improved to 7-6 overall and 2-1 in the Midwest Athletic Conference with the win. Fort Recovery fell to 1-13 overall and 0-3 in the MAC.
