By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
April 19, 2002
UNION For most of Thursday's second round Class 1A/2A fast-pitch playoff series opener with Hamilton, the Union Lady Jackets managed to wiggle their way out of one jam after another.
There would be no escape in the fourth inning, however, as the Lady Lions got all of their runs in taking a 3-2 victory.
Game 2 is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Hamilton with Game 3, if needed, to follow.
Hamilton, 15-5, stranded 11 baserunners in the game including three in the first inning.
The Lady Lions had the bases loaded with one out, but came away empty as Marley Smith (11-4) struck out Jennifer Griffin and Mandy Malone.
Hamilton had runners at second and third with two outs in the top of the fourth when second baseman Aletha Oliver's fly ball fell in shallow right-center to give the Lady Lions a 2-0 lead.
liver scored what turned out to be the winning run on a throwing error by Lindsey Cassel at shortstop.
Union, 21-9, got one run back in the bottom of the fourth.
Lauren White beat out an infield single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cassel that Oliver caught running away from the infield in shallow right field.
Hamilton had runners at first and second with one out in the top of fifth when Cassel relieved Smith and retired the next two batters to stifle that threat.
The Lady Jackets got to within 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth as Smith reached on an error by Oliver, stole second, and came home on a single by LaSaundra Harrison.
Smith retook the mound in the top of the seventh and bailed Cassel out of a two-on, one-out jam.
Union's last threat saw Morgan Breland draw a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh.
After Breland stole second and third, lefty Amber Hess (14-5) fanned Loren Kennedy to secure the win.
Union had only five hits off Hess (14-5). She struck out eight and walked only two. The Lady Lions committed just one error.
Harrison led Union, going 2-for-2 with a pair of singles.
Hamilton had eight hits off Smith and Cassel. Malone went 2-for-3 with two singles to lead Hamilton, whose losses have been to Tupelo, Mooreville, Columbus, and Caledonia (twice).
Union will have to win twice at Hamilton Saturday to keep its season alive.
The Lady Jackets are 10-3 on Saturdays this spring with the losses coming to Caledonia, Newton County, and Northeast Lauderdale.