Marshall County held Madisonville-North Hopkins scoreless through five innings but the Lady Maroons four-run sixth inning would be all they needed to beat the Lady Marshals 4-2 and advance to the Elite Eight of the KHSAA Softball State Tournament. The game at Western Kentucky University’s softball field came just a day removed from region championships for the two teams due to weather delays that pushed the games to Friday.
Both teams left a runner stranded in the first inning, the Lady Marshals following a base hit by Charley Pursley and one from Courtney Patterson for the Lady Maroons. Lindsey Peyton was left on base for Madisonville in the second inning and in the third, the Lady Marshals left two stranded, Layne Pea who reached on a walk and Presley Jezik after a base hit while Gracie Arnold was left for Madisonville in the bottom of the inning.
It was three up and three out for both teams in the fourth inning before the Lady Marshals put runs on the board in the top of the fifth. Singles by Riley Piercefield and Pea led to a run scoring on bunt by Jezik and a run batted in by Pursley to lead 2-0.
The decisive bottom of the sixth inning began on singles by Patterson and Jayda Perkins. A walk from Mykayla Spurlin loaded the bases after Gracey Murt relieved Gabbi Lovett on the mound. Lindsey Peyton flied out for the second out with the bases still loaded. With Amber Osborne at the plate, a run scored for Madisonville with two more coming in on Osborne’s single.
Lovett returned to the mound for Marshall County and faced Arnold whose base hit brought in the fourth run for a 4-2 Madisonville lead. Peyton drew a walk to load the bases back up but the inning ended on a ground out by Zoe Davis.
The first three up for the Lady Marshals in the top of the seventh were all retired by Patterson who pitched all seven innings, gave up two runs, five hits, four strike outs and walked one in the win.
Madisonville (24-9) advances to play Clay County, a 3-0 winner over Wolfe County in the Semi-State 7 game. The 2019 Fourth District and First Region champion Lady Marshals end their season with a record of 27-14.
Marshall 000 020 0 250
Madisonville 000 004 x 490
HITTING
Marshall: Jezik 2/4 (RBI), Pursley 1/3 (RBI), Piercefield 1/3, Pea 1/2
Madisonville: Patterson 2/3, Perkins 1/3, Peyton 1/3, Osborn 2/3 (2 RBIs), Woodward 1/2, Arnold 2/3 (RBI)
PITCHING
Marshall: Lovett 4.2 (5 hits, 1 run), Murt 1.1 (4 hits, 3 runs)
Madisonville: Patterson 7.0 (5 hits, 2 runs)
Photos below (top to bottom) from the State Softball Tournament; Charley Pursley and Assistant Coach Jordan Gilland, Layne Pea at third base, Cayson Conner at the plate and Riley Piercefield at catcher.
