The West Greene softball team relied on its defense, for maybe the first time this season, to secure a 4-1, senior-night win over University High on Tuesday.
The Lady Buffaloes held their opponent to fewest runs in any game this season and they scored the fewest runs in any win this season on a night where they honored seniors Morgan Brown, Hayley Arnold and Chloie Reams.
“Overall it was a good game. This was probably one of our better defensive games, and I feel like everybody contributed. Hopefully we can keep this up going into the postseason,” West Greene coach Clinton Haun said.
Brown got through the top of the first inning with eight pitches and then she got the offense started by smashing a double into the left-field corner. Aubree Everett followed with another line drive to left field and Brown scored when Kaylee Willett got a pop up to fall over the shortstop.
West Greene ended the inning with the bases loaded.
The Lady Buffaloes went in front 2-0 in the second inning and Brown did all the work. She started things by slipping a single through the left side of the infield. Brown wasted no time taking off for second on a steal, and when the Lady Buccaneers tried to catch her the ball sailed into centerfield. To make matters worse the defender tripped in the grass allowing the ball to roll all the way to the fence while Brown easily trotted home.
University looked poised to draw closer in the fourth inning when it loaded the bases with one out, but on a line drive to centerfield Arnold threw a strike back to plate and catcher Miranda Hunter tagged out Avery Nelson before she could score. An easy pop up to first base then ended the threat.
West Greene got one more run in the bottom of the fourth. With two on and two outs Arnold fired a double into the left field corner. Everett easily scored from second, but Alexis Cutshall’s run was waived off because the Lady Bucs caught Arnold trying to stretch her hit into a triple.
University did get an unearned run in the sixth inning. Reece Williams got the side started with a single to left field and she scored with two outs when Reed hit a ground ball that was booted at second base.
The Lady Buffaloes got a little insurance in the sixth inning. Brown hit a pop up to the right side that was dropped. When the Lady Bucs held the ball too long after chasing down the spill Brown went all the way to third on the play. Everett scored her on a line drive up the middle.
Brown finished her senior night 2-for-4 with a double and she scored three of West Greene’s four runs. Everett was 3-for-3 with an RBI. Arnold went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Addison Peters also had a double.
From the circle Brown threw all seven innings with four strikeouts, four walks and four hits allowed.
West Greene will wrap up the regular season on Thursday at North Greene, and then the District 1-2A Tournament will begin next week.
