Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan third baseman Kailyn Boyer tries to make the putout at first with a throw over older sister Brittin.

Unearned runs compound in loss

April 1, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The only thing louder than senior Brittin Boyer’s pre-game chant Tuesday were the four errors by the Lady Red against Tuscola, whether it be a missed flyout or a grounder getting underneath a glove. The errors and lack of hustle at times helped account for six of the Warriors 10 runs as Tuscola defeated Sullivan 10-3.
“I’ve got four earned runs on the day today for them. You can attribute it to spring break and not being up and doing something. You can attribute it to nerves, playing these guys for the first time. We know we’ve got them in the regional. We know we’re going to see them probably three times this year. We just didn’t come out focused,” said head coach Ben Richter. “That first inning, letting three runs in off little flare hits that we routinely make plays on and then the floodgates opened from there, and they just chipped away, chipped away with their bunts and moving people around. And they’re a good team. They had 13 hits to our seven. But whenever their hit that is a single turns into a double or a triple, because we’re not making plays on the ball, you’re not going to win games like that.”     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan catcher Makenzie Ruppert tries to make a diving catch while pitcher Heidi Clements rushes in to help.

Sullivan did manage to answer back, in part, in response to Tuscola’s three-run first inning, beginning with Bailey Pratt’s linedrive to shallow right field. Heidi Clements then singled just past shortstop to bring Makenzie Ruppert to the plate with one out and runners at first and second. The sophomore would single a linedrive near where Pratt had sent hers just two at-bats earlier, to score. Sullivan tacked another run on following Brittin Boyer’s RBI, but the Lady Red would be stopped short of tying the game after Seleste Smith struck out swinging.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Heidi Clements winds up during her time at the mound Tuesday. She went six innings allowing 11 hits and 9 runs while striking out three.

From there, the Redskins saw very little in the way of offensive production. In fact, over the next six innings, they would tally just four more hits, one more run, and suffer eight more strikeouts.
There were, however, still a few highlights from the game, including Clements’ double play on a tag-out at home and then throwout at second in the top of the second inning.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Freshman Madison Wall came in to relieve Heidi Clements in the seventh inning at which time she allowed two hits, one run, and one walk.

“That was one of those great heads-up plays,” said Richter. “We had some highlights in the game. Bailey Pratt did a good job hitting the ball. And we moved people around when we needed to. We only had a couple left on base. We just didn’t get that many people on base to begin with.”
Sullivan (3-3), will next face Warrensburg.
“We have Warrensburg on Thursday to try and right the ship a little bit and see how we’re going to do in the conference,” said Richter. “But I don’t think this is the best team in the conference. Meridian is up there, and Clinton is always good, so it’s going to be a struggle if we keep playing like this.”