The E-gals struggled in their season opener on Monday, as they were only able to get a pair of hits and committed five errors in an 11-1 short-game loss at the hands of Henderson County.
The Lady Colonels got off to a hot start, as a one-out walk was followed up by an RBI double from junior Taylor Troutman to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the first with one down. Apollo ace senior Emmie Bullington bounced back with a strikeout during the next at-bat, but senior Kendal Hargove worked the count full the following at-bat before sending a line shot over the center field fence to give Henderson County a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
Sophomore Macey Calhoun gave the E-gals their first hit with a leadoff double in the second inning, but it wasn’t until the top of the third that junior Mallory Velotta drew a one-out walk and stole second before senior Morgan Julian delivered an RBI single to left to make it a 3-1 ballgame. The Lady Colonels responded swiftly though, getting a run in the bottom half of the inning before taking advantage of two Apollo errors in the bottom of the fourth and scoring five to take a 9-1 lead after four.
Freshman Taylor Clark came in for the E-gals the following inning, giving up a single to start the inning but quickly recovering with a one-out strikeout. However, senior JaMaya Byrum put an exclamation point on a three-RBI day with a two-run blast the following at-bat, giving Henderson County the 11-1 victory.
Bullington didn’t have her best stuff in the circle on Monday, allowing nine hits and nine runs—only five of them earned—while walking one and striking out three in four innings. Clark followed by surrendering two hits and two earned runs in a third of an inning in the circle, while Julian and Velotta were the only players to record a hit on the night.
Apollo falls to 0-1 overall to start the season, as they will look to bounce back on Thursday when they hit the road to take on Hancock County at 6 p.m.
