By By Robbie Robertson / EMG sports writer
April 11, 2004
DECATUR Newton County's Mack Fanning was looking forward to a rest on Tuesday.
But a three-run seventh inning by Our Lady Academy will send the Lady Cougars to Bay St. Louis Tuesday in a do-or-die situation to advance in the Class 3A South State fast-pitch playoffs.
On Saturday, OLA rallied from a 4-1 deficit to take a 5-4, eight-inning victory over Newton County. In game two, the Lady Cougars rallied by some good defense and the pitching of Melisa Robinson to take a 9-3 victory.
The Lady Cougars move to 18-12 while OLA is now 9-9. Game three of the series will be Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
OLA 5
Newton County 4
The Lady Cougars were in control for most of the contest but the Lady Crescents scored from runs in the last two innings to take the victory.
Dominique Mapp had a big day for the Lady Cougars. She scored the first run of the game in the first inning on a Joni Seale RBI groundout. In the fourth inning, she gave Newton County a 3-1 lead with a single that scored Megan Munn and Kasie Buckley for a 3-1 lead.
With a 4-1 lead heading into the seventh, the Lady Cougars seemed in control. But a variety of mistake cost Newton County. The Lady Cresents took advantage of a walk, an error, some pooring throwing decisions and a timely hit to tie the game up at 4-4.
In the eighth with a runner to start the inning on second base OLA scored one run to go up 5-4.
Newton County had its opportunity in the bottom half of the eighth with a runner on third and no outs. But after a groundout, Cavenaugh lined into a double play to end the game.
Newton County managed only five hits while OLA had six.
Newton County 9
OLA 3
Newton County scored in all but one inning as the Lady Cougars assured themselves another day of play.
Cavenaugh started the second game on the mound as well but was pulled in the second inning in favor of Robinson.
Robinson was solid, going six innings and giving up just two hits and no earned runs in getting the victory.
Not only did the pitching improve but so did the defense as the Lady Cougars committed just one error and had some fine defensive work in the outfield.
After scoring two in the first, Newton County added three more in the second to go ahead 5-0.
Newton County added a run in the third, two in the fourth and one in the sixth for the final margin of victory.
Megan Munn was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Jennifer Smith was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Mapp was 1-for-2 and scored three runs.