Hornettes Stay Perfect In Conference Play
Sophomore Mackenzie McFeron tries to slide in under the tag going into third base during Nashville’s 12-2 win over the Sparta Bulldogs.
The Nashville Hornettes bounced back from a non-conference loss against Mater Dei this past week, to win three straight games. The Hornettes defeated a non-conference opponent in Mt. Vernon, before knocking off Anna-Jonesboro and Sparta to stay perfect in SIRR Conference play. It was the second time this season that the Hornettes have defeated Sparta and Anna-Jonesboro.
The Hornettes struggled in the first inning, and could not muster a comeback losing to Mater Dei 8-5. Mater Dei took advantage of early miscues from the Hornettes to take a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Nashville battled all game getting as close as two in the late innings. A three run home run by Brooke Burcham cut Mater Dei’s lead to 6-4 in the fifth inning, but Mater Dei came back with two in the sixth to extend their lead once again. Nasvhille would get one run back in the bottom of the sixth, but could not come all the way back, as they dropped their fifth game of the season.
Deidra Holzhauer was on the mound as she pitched all seven innings for Nashville. Holzhauer gave up eight runs, three earned, on seven hits while striking out five. Burcham led the Nashville offense with her lone hit being the three run home run. Mackenzie McFeron and Sophie Heck each had a hit and a run scored in the loss. Paige Kasten finished with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base in the game. The Hornettes were patient in the game as they drew seven walks from Mater Dei pitching. Joey Lane and Jordan Stiegman each had a run in the game.
The Hornettes got back on the winning track against Anna-Jonesboro on April 15. The Hornettes scored early and often on their way to a 13-3 victory. The Hornettes scored in every inning except the first, as they got three in the second, one in the third, fourth, and fifth, two in the sixth, and five in the seventh inning. This season, the Hornettes outscored Anna-Jonesboro 31-3 in their two matchups.
McFeron was on fire in this game, finishing just a single shy of the cycle. McFeron went 4-5 with two triples, a homre run, a double, two RBIs, and four runs scored. Holzhauer was great on the mound, and at the dish as she pitched all seven innings giving up just one earned run, striking out seven batters. At the plate Holzhauer added three hits for Nashville. Heck also had multiple hits for Nashville including a triple. Libby Ahlers finished with three RBIs in the contest, and a double. Kasten and Stiegman finished with one run and one hit apiece. Burcham walked twice, had a hit, and scored three runs in the ballgame.
The Hornettes got another good game offensively on April 16 as they defeated Mt. Vernon 10-2. The Hornettes took control of the game early, plating four runs in the first inning. That would be all Holzhauer would need on the mound, as she went all seven innings, giving up one earned run, on three hits, striking out six batters. McFeron added another three hits in this game, finishing a home run shy of the cycle. Holzhauer finished with two hits, the big blow being a home run. Kasten, Karly Stanowski, Burcham, Alli Liske, Heck, and Ahlers each finished with one hit in the win.
The Hornettes defeated Sparta for the second time this season, capitalizing on five Sparta errors to win 12-2 in six innings of play. The Hornettes got out of the gate quick as McFeron led off the game with a triple. Kasten would get on base, via an error allowing McFeron to score, steal second, and come around to score herself on a double by Stanowski. Leading 2-0 after one, the Hornettes would break the game open in the second, scoring five runs. The score would remain the same, until Sparta was able to get two runs in the top of the fifth. Nashville wasn’t done scoring as Nashville scored five runs in the final two innings, culminating with a walk-off three run home run by Liske.
Holzhauer pitched all six innings giving up just one earned run, striking out five batters. Holzhaer also led the offense with three hits in the game. McFeron, Kaste, and Stiegman each finished with two hits apiece. Stanowski, Heck and Liske each finished with one hit.
