Having notched its first two wins of the season earlier in the week, the West Prairie/Southeastern softball squad aimed to keep the momentum going in an Apr. 16 contest against Rushville- Industry.
The Cyclones led 4-3 before the host Rockets rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to record a 7-4 victory.
WP/SE slipped to 2-9 on the season, while RIHS, ranked No. 16 in the latest Illinois Coaches Association Class 1A poll, improved to 8-2.
“I was very proud of how our girls handled themselves,” said WP/SE coach Cyle Rigg. “I felt like we made them beat us. We didn’t beat ourselves.”
The game featured a match-up of freshman pitchers in Arianna Soule for WP/SE and Joaney Flowers for RIHS.
The Cyclones scored once in the opening inning.
Addalyn Stanberry singled to right to start the contest. She moved to second after Tegan Rigg drew a walk. Flowers uncorked a pair of wild pitches that allowed Stanberry to score the game’s first run.
The Cyclones made it 3-0 in the second, putting together a two-out rally.
Maicyn Shipman singled to center before Morgan Simmons and Stanberry walked to load the bases. Ella Tippey followed with a base hit to center on a 1-2 pitch that scored Shipman.
Kaylee Jackson, serving as a courtesy runner for Jackson, scored the second run on a wild pitch by Flowers.
RIHS put together a twoout, two-run rally of its own in the bottom of the third.
Macy Snyder reached on an infield single to shortstop with one out.
One out later, Snyder stole second and moved to third on an error by Stanberry at short. Devin Vogler walked and took second on defensive indifference.
Snyder and Vogler scored when Italee Ford singled to center, cutting the Cyclones lead to 3-2.
RIHS tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Lainy Greer reached on a bunt single and advanced to third on an error by first baseman Ella Tippey.
Greer scored when Taylor Boyd grounded out to Stanberry at short.
WP/SE tallied its final run the following inning when Tippey singled to center before scoring when Rigg tripled to right.
Rigg attempted to score on a ground ball to short by Adrianna Starks, but Ford threw home to catcher Kamdyn Boyd who tagged Rigg out at the plate.
Greer opened the bottom of the sixth for the Rockets reaching on a bunt single. She stole second and moved to third on a passed ball.
Taylor Boyd was hit by a pitch before taking second on defensive indifference. Greer scored when Karissa Harrison singled to center.
An error on the play allowed Harrison to advance to second and Taylor Boyd to score, giving the Rockets their first lead of the game at 5-4.
Harrison advanced to third on a passed ball and scored when Snyder singled to right.
A pair of sac bunts moved Snyder to third before she scored on a single to left by Ford that capped the rally.
Flowers slammed the door on any comeback hopes for the Cyclones by striking out the side in the top of the seventh.
RIHS out-hit WP/SE 8-5 with the Cyclones also committing four errors.
Tippey had two hits, scoring a run with one run batted in for WP/SE. Rigg tripled with one RBI, while Stanberry and Shipman each had a hit and a run scored for the Cyclones.
“I was really happy with our at-bats,” said Rigg. “I thought our girls did a really good job. “
In the circle, Soule allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits. She struck out two, walked four and hit a batter.
“She did a good job of keeping them off-balance,” said Rigg of Soule.
Ford was 4-for-4 with two doubles and three runs batted in for RIHS. Snyder added two hits with two runs scored and one knocked in.
Greer had a hit and scored twice, while Taylor Boyd scored one run and knocked in another. Vogler scored a run, while Harrison had a hit with a run scored and one batted in.
In the circle, Flowers allowed four earned runs on five hits. She struck out 13, walked four and hit a batter.
The Cyclones were scheduled to host (Biggsville) West Central (8-2-1), ranked No. 13 in Class 1A by the ICA on Tuesday and Beardstown (11-1) on Thursday.
