Top-seeded Georgetown knocks off Pikeville

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — The Pikeville College Lady Bears were limited to four hits and saw some costly walks result in runs for top-seeded Georgetown College in a 4-1 loss Thursday afternoon.

The win for Georgetown put it in the winner’s bracket finals against No. 2 Campbellsville, which knocked off Cumberlands on Thursday. Pikeville will now play in the noon game on Friday, meeting six-seeded West Virginia University Tech in an elimination game.

“We had some scoring opportunities, but every time we had a chance Jen Tarplee would do something amazing out there,” said Coach Robert Staggs, referring to the senior from Cincinnati who made two diving catches, one coming with runners at second and third to end an inning and the other preventing a run from scoring from second. “I’ve said all along she’s the best player in the league and she proved it again tonight.”

In addition to her dazzling defense, Tarplee drove in three runs for the Tigers.

Pikeville (25-27) got on the scoreboard first, plating a run in the second inning. Senior Heather Robbins drew a one-out walk and moved into scoring position when junior Tiffany Allen grounded out. Senior Megan Swan laced a single to center and Robbins hustled in from second to make the score 1-0.

Despite a few more chances, that would prove to be the only run the Lady Bears would score in the game.

Georgetown evened the count in the bottom of the third. No. 9 hitter Whitney Ealey led off with a bunt single and moved to second on a wild pitch. She reached third on an infield hit by freshman Rachel Johnson and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Kara Renfro.

The game was decided when the Tigers posted three runs in the fourth, all having reached base via the walk.

Junior Jessica Craddock opened the inning with a single and moved to second when junior Sarah Gronfield walked. Starting pitcher Marissa Adkins, a freshman from Russell, was on the cusp of escaping the inning unscathed when Ashley Mitchell’s line drive was caught by second-baseman Terri Mullins, who stepped on second to force Renfro for a double play, leaving only the runner at first with two outs.

But Adkins then lost the strike zone, issuing back-to-back walks to sophomore Pamela Hardesty and senior York Sammons to load the bases.

Ealey again proved damaging from the nine hole, lacing a single to center to score Gronefield with what would prove to be the winning run. But the inning wasn’t over, as Tarplee, the leadoff hitter, laced a two-run single to score both Harvesty and Samons.

Tarplee again plated the final run of the game, this one on a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to score Gronefield, who led off the frame with a walk.

Pikeville had four hits in the game, coming on a double by Kouns and singles by Robbins, Allen and Swan.

Adkins was the pitcher of record, throwing all six innings, giving up 10 hits and five earned runs. She fanned two but walked five.