INMAN, S.C – Chapman softball coach Casey Green has wanted her team to start out on a better note at the plate. On Wednesday night, the team responded as a big first inning powered the Lady Panthers to a 10-0 victory over the Blue Ridge Tigers in five innings.
Autumn Fisher and Krislyn Wilder reached safely on a walk and base hit, respectively, that put runners on the corners to open Chapman’s half of the first inning. Rylan Ivey drove in Fisher with a groundout, while Wilder scored on a Sophie Whitley single, staking the Panthers to a 2-0 lead. Reagan Garrett and Sam McPhail each earned a free pass during the flurry as well. Kayla Hardin (courtesy runner for Garrett) crossed home plate on a wild pitch, while McPhail scored on an error. An Addy Lawson groundout plated Kenslie Edwards (courtesy runner for Whitley) and created a 5-0 Chapman lead. “I was just super excited that we were able to get five runs in that inning,” said Green. “We usually start out so slow, so it was a nice change… five runs in one inning are a great way to start a game.” The Panthers showed off the glove work when Wilder made two great throws from center field to Fisher at second base, retiring the lead runner for the Tigers on back-to-back plays. Hailey Coley also made a diving catch in foul territory on the third base line, which helped retire the side in the third inning. Madison Manning walked with one out in the Panthers’ third and sprinted home on a Fisher triple to right-center. Fisher crossed home plate on a Wilder double to left center, which created a 7-0 advantage. “We practice going hard every single day,” Wilder stated. “When you have a ball (hit) like that, it’s a reaction for whoever is receiving the ball and whoever is on the bases, looking at where the ball is. I just have the confidence in my teammates to tell me where I need to go and where I need to be.” “We have put in work from the very beginning to get to where we are now. We all know that we have the potential to get really, really far.” The Panthers plated three runs in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk to Whitley, an Alexis Floyd single, and a wild pitch, which provided the final margin. Wilder was perfect at the plate for the Panthers, going 4-for-4 with an RBI, two doubles, and two runs scored. Whitley went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI, while Fisher was 1-for-3 with a triple, RBI, and two runs scored. Garrett drew three walks and scored a run, while Floyd, Ivey and Lawson notched one RBI apiece. Manning and McPhail also scored one run each. In the circle, Garrett tossed a gem and scattered four hits in the shutout win. “We spend a lot of time on defense,” Green added. “(Krislyn) is the type of kid that is always looking for the next out anyway, even if she doesn’t catch the ball in the air. She’s going hard and is going to make something happen.” “(Hailey) is coming into her own at third base. It’s not a new position for her – she hasn’t been there the past couple of years. She is getting more comfortable. She was able to read the hands (of the batter), crash in on the bunt, and made a great play.” Next up for Chapman (9-3, 3-0 Region) is a Region 3-3A matchup at Travelers Rest on Thursday, March 28th. The game is slated to begin at approximately 7:30 PM. Comments are closed.
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