By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Both teams got 10 hits, but one capitalized more than the other. Hibriten centerfielder Karli Pelfrey and left fielder Adriana Figueroa each rapped out three hits in four plate appearances on March 25, powering the Panthers to a 7-4 win over the host Watauga Pioneers.
Among the hits by the Hibriten outfielder duo were triples by each. Pelfrey put herself into scoring position to score two runs on the night while Figueroa’s offensive performance included one run scored and one RBI.
While Hibriten jumped on Watauga starting pitcher Katie Matheson for a run in each of the first two innings, the first four innings were largely a pitcher’s duel. The Pioneers got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when third baseman Jayden Arnette singled and eventually scored on a passed ball, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.
Even though Figueroa smashed a 2-out triple to the right field fence in the top of the fourth inning, Matheson was able to get herself out the jam by getting the Panthers’ first baseman Sydney Turnmire to ground out to second, ending the inning.
Matheson went the full seven innings in the circle for the Pioneers, but it came at a cost to her ERA (earned run average). The Panthers exploded for five more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take command with a 7-1 lead.
Pelfrey ripped a 1-out single in the fifth inning after freshman teammate Claire Rotting reached first on an error. A walk to Parker Boggs loaded the bases for junior catcher Presley Smith, who promptly doubled to the gap in center, scoring all three of her teammates.
Figueroa led off with a single in the sixth, then was brought home by a Turnmire double to the centerfield fence. Turnmire later was brought home with an RBI groundout.
Watauga was able to narrow the big deficit with two runs in the bottom of the 6th. Chloe Moretz led off with a line drive single to center, then advanced to 2nd base on a hard ground ball through the infield by Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute-bound Jordin Greene. Watauga catcher Chloe Wilson — who will join Greene at Caldwell next season — drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Ansleigh Watson lofted a sacrifice fly to left that saw all baserunners tagging up and advancing, including Moretz crossing the plate. The Pioneers loaded the bases again when Julie Matheson reached first base on an error, with Wilson holding up at second and Greene at third. Rotting, the Hibriten pitcher, helped herself by throwing out Greene at home on a grounder back to the circle. But that still left the bases loaded. The Pioneers took advantage when Wilson scored on a slow roller single back to the pitcher by Presli Wood, shrinking the deficit to 7-3.
Watauga scored one more time in the bottom of the 7th on consecutive 1-out singles by Moretz and Greene, then another walk awarded to Wilson, loading the bases for yet another time for the Pioneers. Moretz scored for the game’s final run but the scoring threat was squashed on a pop-up double play to end the game.
Next up for Watauga (2-7 overall, 0-3 Northwestern Conference) is a trip to East Bend, N.C. (Yadkin County) to challenge Forbush High School (8-3) on March 26.
KEY PERFORMERS
- HIB – Karli Pelfrey: 3-4, 2 runs scored, triple
- HIB – Presley Smith: 1-4, 3 RBIs, double
- HIB – Adriana Figueroa: 3-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, triple
- HIB – Sydney Turnmire: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, double
- WAT – Chloe Moretz: 2-4, 2 runs scored, stolen base
- WAT – Ansleigh Watson: 0-2, 2 RBIs, 2 sacrifice flies
- WAT – Presli Wood: 2-3, 1 RBI
- WAT: Chloe Wilson: 1-2, 1 run scored, 2 walks
- WAT – Katie Matheson: 2-4
