By Cort Reynolds
ADA - The host Ada softball team rallied late but fell short 8-5 to Hardin County foe Ridgemont Friday evening.
The purple and gold fell to 2-4 with the defeat.
Ridgemont took an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. Ada responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the opening frame to inch within 3-2.
The Gophers built their lead back to three with two runs in the second, and Ada plated a run in the home second to make it 5-3 after two innings.
In the top of the fifth, Ridgemont pushed three more runs across the plate to extend their lead to 8-3.
Bulldog senior Raina England led off the home fifth with a bunt single. England eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.
Sophomore catcher Lexi Waugh then smashed a solo home run over the right-center field fence to edge Ada within 8-5. Sophomore pitcher Leona Dalton slashed a double to left field, but was stranded on a fly out to center field.
The Gophers led off with consecutive singles to start the top of the sixth. But Dalton buckled down to retire two hitters on foul outs to third sacker Sidney Gossard, sandwiched around a strikeout.
In the home sixth, soph Aubrey Madison led off with a single to right field. But Gopher hurler Whitney Bailey struck out two and retired the other hitter on a pop-out back to her to end the threat and keep the lead at three.
Dalton set the Gophers down in order in the seventh on a strikeout and two groundouts. In the bottom of the seventh,
Gossard flew out to center field and Waugh was out when her blooper was caught nicely by the backpedaling Ridgemont shortstop in shallow left-center.
Sophomore Kiersten Cortez kept Ada alive by slicing a single to center field. But Dalton fouled out on a high pop-up beyond third base to end the game.
Ada senior outfielder Alexis Ennis slapped two hits, scored a run and knocked in another as the Bulldog leadoff hitter. England collected two hits and scored a pair of runs. Cleanup batter Waugh doubled, homered, scored a run and drove in a pair.
Cortez singled twice and hbatted in one run. Madison hit two singles while Brenna George doubled and scored a run.
Emma Smith led the Gophers with three hits, a stolen base and an RBI. Jackie Ramsey slammed a home run, scored three runs, collected three RBI and added a single.
Amanda Howland contributed two hits, a run and one RBI. Callie Cromer drove in a pair of runs. Ada out-hit Ridgemont, 12-10.
Both teams left seven runners on base. Ridgemont committed no errors while Ada was guilty of two miscues.
Dalton pitched 6 2/3 innnings in relief of England, allowing three earned runs and six hits. She struck out four and walked two.
Bailey scattered a dozen hits to earn the win. She allowed five earned runs, but gave up no walks while striking out four.
123 456 7 R H E
Rmnt 320 030 0 8 10 0
Ada 210 020 x 5 12 2
WP-Bailey LP-Dalton (2-3)
2B-Smith (R), George (A), Waugh (A), Dalton (A)
HR-Waugh (A), Ramsey (R)
Ada (2-1 home) is slated to host Arlington Saturday in a non-league doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m.
