Softball opens MSC with shutout of Lindsey Wilson

GEORGETOWN, Ky — Freshman right-hander Whitney Compton fired a three-hit complete game as Pikeville College blanked Lindsey Wilson College 3-0 in the opening round of the 2008 Mid-South Conference softball tournament on Thursday afternoon.

Compton struck out four and walked only one in the win, which came at the same time that her brother Jordan struck out 12 in going seven innings as the Bears knocked off top-seeded Cumberlands 4-2 on an adjacent field.

The win puts the Lady Bears, seeded fifth in the six-team tournament, in the winners bracket where they were to meet top-seeded Georgetown at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

“We played about as well as we could today,” said Coach Robert Staggs. “We got some great play in the field, our hitting was timely and we couldn’t ask for more from Compton.

“Now we’ve just got to realize it’s not over. We’ve got Georgetown next and if we want to advance, we’ve got to keep making the plays.”

Pikeville (25-26) put runners on base in the first two innings but left three stranded before finally scoring in the top of the third. Sophomore Cortney Bentley ripped a double to left to lead off the frame. After a sacrifice bunt by senior Terri Mullins moved her to third, she coasted in as junior Krista Kouns blasted a home run just beyond the fence in straightaway center for a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Bears added an insurance run in the fourth and had an opportunity to blow the game open go by the wayside. Junior Tiffany Allen and senior Megan Swan led off with bunt singles and loaded the bases when Allen beat the throw to third on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Swan.

Allen scored what would prove to be the final run of the game when freshman Marissa Adkins was hit by a pitch. The bases remained loaded, but Lindsey Wilson starter Danielle Clark avoided more trouble with a strikeout and double play to get out of the jam.

Compton, meanwhile, was brilliant on the mound, allowing multiple base runners only in the first inning while cruising to the win. She finished with four strikeouts and a walk, allowing only three hits.

Bentley, Allen and Swan led the offensive attack for the Lady Bears with two hits apiece. Bentley had a double amongst hers. Senior Heather Robbins added a single.

But the star of the game was clearly Kouns, who added a couple of diving catches of line drives to her homer to lead the Lady Bears to the win.