By Cort Reynolds
ADA __ The Ada High School softball team rode a big inning and two-hit pitching to defeat visiting Arcadia 6-1 in a non-conference contest Friday evening, April 26.
The Bulldogs improved to 12-2 overall with their seventh consecutive win. Arcadia fell to 7-7 after the loss.
“It was nice to get them after we lost to Arcadia the last two years,” said third-year Ada head coach Jeff Bassitt. “Jenna pitched a good game.”
Ada junior pitcher Jenna Bassitt hurled a complete-game two-hitter to win her 11th game in 13 decisions. She struck out 14 Redskins.
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The Bulldog girls out-hit the Redskins 5-2 and capitalized on four errors to win.
Bassitt struck out a rare four batters in the top of the first inning.
Ada threatened in the home first. Bassitt lined a single off pitcher Jordyn Tong’s knee, and Aidra Preston walked. One out later, Tess Griffith bunted but was thrown out at first. Bassitt tried to score on the play but was tagged out at home by catcher Allyson McCartney.
All of the game’s runs were scored in the third inning.
In the top of the third, Arcadia tallied first. With one out, Tong hammered a two-strike pitch far over the left field fence for a solo home run and a 1-0 lead.
But in the bottom of the third, Ada responded with six big runs to take control. Alainee Buxton reached on a throwing error leading off. Bassitt drilled a single off the glove of Tong. Preston laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Buxton scored on an Arcadia error to tie it.
Griffith drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Karley Wagner then walked to force in the tie-breaking run for a 2-1 lead.
Freshman Reese Jordan lined a single off Tong’s glove and it caromed into short right field to plate two runs and provide a 4-1 margin.
“Reese had a big hit there,” said Bassitt.
She then stole second base. Katie Sizemore grounded back to Tong, but the first baseman dropped the throw to allow Griffith and Jordan to scamper home.
Tong finally got out of the inning with a groundout and a strikeout, but the damage was done.
Bassitt struck out the first three batters in the fourth, but the last one was dropped on the third strike to allow Samantha Peoples to reach first. Redskin Alanna Tucker sliced a double to shallow right field to put two runners in scoring position.
But Lili Mundy’s liner was snagged by first baseman Preston to turn back the threat.
Neither team got another hit until the fifth frame. Griffith singled to left field leading off the home fifth. But after stealing a base, she was stranded.
Bassitt struck out the leadoff hitter in the Arcadia sixth. The next batter flew out to right field. She then stabbed Averie Smarr’s grounder backhanded and threw her out at first.
Ada went down in order in their half of the sixth.
Bassitt struck out Peoples to start the seventh. After a pop-out and a Mundy walk, she whiffed Addyson McCartney for her 14th K to end the game.
Bassitt amassed two hits, two steals and a run. Preston had a hit, a walk, scored a run and stole a base.
Jordan had a two-run single, scored a run and swiped a bag. Griffith singled, scored a run, walked and stole a base.
Sizemore contributed two RBI. Buxton scored a run.
Tong homered for the lone Arcadia run.
Ada visits defending NWC champion Crestview (5-10, 3-1 NWC) Monday, April 29 in a key league bout.
“We will have to be on our best game at Crestview,” Bassitt warned.
The Bulldogs are first in the NWC at 4-0, followed closely by Lincolnview (11-1, 3-0 NWC).
Ada visits Waynesfield (5-5) in a non-league makeup game Tuesday, April 30. W-G lost 11-8 to Vanlue Friday.
123 456 7 R H E
Arc 001 000 0 1 2 4
Ada 006 000 x 6 5 1
WP-Bassitt (11-2) LP-Tong
2B-Tucker (Arc)
HR-Tong (Arc)
