The E-gals struggled to shut down Hancock County late in their season opener, while Owensboro Catholic offense was more than enough to help Lexi Hatchet grab a win over Ohio County.
Apollo vs. Hancock County
In a heated battle heading into the final inning, the E-gals gave up a six-run top half of the seventh to fall to Hancock County 8-1 in their season opener.
The Lady Hornets didn’t take long to get on the board by scoring on an one-out RBI groundout from junior Ella Staples, scoring freshman Baylee Estes following her leadoff single to start the game. This allowed Hancock County to go into the second inning up 1-0.
Apollo was able to take advantage of an early error, as junior Emmie Bullington proceeded to reach first and courtesy runner seventh grader Lily Logsdon made it to third on back-to-back passed balls. Junior Morgan Julian followed that up with a liner to right field, knotting things up at 1-1 for the E-gals.
Both teams held each other scoreless until the fifth inning, where the Lady Hornets took advantage of an Apollo miscue. Estes found herself on first with one out in the top half of the inning following an error by junior K’Asia Palmer, which led to an RBI double and a 2-1 lead thanks to Staples.
Two innings later, Hancock County made sure the E-gals wouldn’t put together a comeback win. In the top of the seventh the Lady Hornets took advantage of a walk and an error to kickstart a six-run inning and go into the bottom half up 8-1.
It was there that sophomore Lily Roberts closed the door on a six-hit and 10-strikeout performance, defeating Apollo 8-1. Palmer and Julian were the only two players to register two hits on the E-gals, while Staples led Hancock County with four RBIs on the day.
Falling in its season opener, Apollo now has a day to recoup before they hit the road to take on Madisonville-North Hopkins at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Owensboro Catholic vs. Ohio County
On the backs off a dominant 16-strikeout performance by junior Lexi Hatchett, the Lady Aces poured in the runs to take an 8-1 victory in their season opener.
After Owensboro Catholic went three-up three-down in the top of the first, they cracked the books in the top of the second. Junior Brooke Hamilton doubled to leadoff the inning and then advanced to third on an error before fellow junior Lilli Grant hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 1-0 game.
The Lady Aces expanded their lead with a late two-out rally in the third, getting a leadoff single from junior Addison Tignor and then an RBI single from junior Bailey Hamilton to make it a 2-0 lead.
Ohio County was able to grab a run in the bottom of the fourth after Hatchett walked the first two batters of the inning. Junior Elli Graves had singled to center field, recording one Hatchett’s allowed three hits to cut it to 2-1.
However, Owensboro Catholic quickly shifted momentum back its way with a four-run sixth. With two outs and Grant on via a hit by pitch, junior Abbie Dukate singled to bring home a run.
After another hit by pitch, back-to-back singles from senior Camille Conkright and Addison Tignor brought one and two runs in respectively to give the Lady Aces a 6-1 lead.
Following a two-out walk, an RBI single from junior Kira Edwards and a triple from Abbie Dukate Owensboro Catholic expanded its lead to 8-1 in the top of the seventh. After walking the first batter in the final half inning, Hatchett struck out three straight to put a bow on an 8-1 season-opening win for the Lady Aces.
Dukate, Edwards and Tignor all registered two hits on the day for Owensboro Catholic, while Dukate led the way with two RBIs.
The Lady Aces now get a day off before they continue their road trip, as they take on Union County at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
