By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School girls softball team doubled twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to score the winning run and defeat McComb 3-2 in a drizzly non-league game Tuesday evening, April 5, at Ada's War Memorial Park.
The Lady Bulldogs evened their record at 2-2 this season with the walk-off win.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the last inning, junior Raeya Finn led off by stroking a pinch-hit double to the gap in left-center field.
Freshman Jenna Bassitt then drilled a line drive to center field, but it was caught.
Freshman middle infielder Aidra Preston then smacked a two-strike pitch up the left-center field alley to easily plate Finn with the winning run.
Bassitt struck out a whopping 17 Panthers to earn her second win. She also hit a double and singled to aid her own cause.
"Jenna and Natilyn (catcher McClain) had a heck of a game," said new Lady Bulldog head coach Jeff Bassitt of his freshman battery. "I told the players on the bench to be ready to play, and Raeya came through.
"Aidra also had a big hit to drive her in," he added. "It was a big win for us after the loss to Miller City Saturday. McComb is a pretty solid team."
Ada threatened in the home first, but Bassitt was ruled out at the plate on a close call trying to score on a passed ball.
In the home second. junior Kayla Wince singled to left field advanced on a wild pitch. She then came home on a groundout by Emilee Huffer to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Bassitt struck out the side, sandwiched around a double down the left field line off the bat of Hassan.
In the Ada third, Bassitt led off by hitting a double to left-center. Preston laid down a good sacrifice bunt, and Bassitt sped home when the throw went off the first baseman's glove.
Preston then swiped second base, but was out trying to move on to third after an overthrow.
McComb tied it with two runs in the fourth. A one-out double was followed by a bunt single. The lead baserunner then hustled around third and narrowly slid under the tag at home plate.
The tying run scored on a wild pitch and an error. But Bassitt bore down and whifed the last two Panthers.
With two out in the home fourth, Bulldog Karley Wagner smashed a double that one-hopped the fence in left field. Huffer walked, but a pop-out to first base ended the threat.
In the Panther fifth the visitors threatened with an infield hit and a walk. But McClain threw out a runner trying to steal second, and Bassitt recorded a key called third strike to preserve the tie.
In the top of the sixth, Bassitt whiffed the side and stranded one runner who walked.
In the bottom of the sixth, Katie Sizemore lined a sharp single to left field on a 3-2 pitch. Wagner smoked a single to center field off the top of the pitcher's glove.
But both runners were stranded on a strikeout.
In the top of the seventh, Bassitt struck out the first two batters before giving up a double to left-center field.
But after issuing a walk, she struck out the final batter to set the stage for the rally in the home seventh.
Wagner and Bassitt each hit a double and single to pace the Ada offense. McClain walked twice.
123 456 7 R H E
McC 000 200 0 2 5 2
Ada 011 000 1 3 8 2
WP-Bassitt (2-1)
2B-Wagner (A), Bassitt (A), Hassan 3 (M), Preston (A)
Ada plays at Perry (4-3) Wednesday, then visits defending league champion Lincolnview (2-1) in the NWC opener Thursday.
