Team Florida Ponytails survive game 3 with a win
By: Shelia Mader
Team Florida Ponytails had their work cut out for them when they stepped on the diamond last week to take on North Carolina-Lumberton. The starting job in the circle went to Kate Barton who went four and two-thirds innings and picked up the 6-5 win. Barton gave up two earned runs on four hits, four walks and fanned 12 batters. Olivia Speers closed out the final one and one-third innings, gave up three runs on five hits, no walks, and struck out two batters.
Team Florida jumped out with four runs in the bottom of the first after holding Lumberton scoreless. Barton helped herself out by taking the second pitch she saw to deep right field for a triple. Brynley Lipford didn’t hesitate to bring her home with a singled up the middle. Aynzley Smith waited patiently for a walk to put runners on first and second. Sydney Green opted to duplicate Barton’s feat with a two-RBI triple to right centerfield. Georgia Adams singled home Green. Adyson Brown had the final hit of the inning with a single down the third-base line.
Barton allowed one-out single in the top of the second inning but no runs crossed the plate. Macy Kent led off with a walk in their half of the frame but three outs followed to leave her stranded at first.
Both teams added two runs in the third inning. With one out in the bottom of the frame, Team Florida’s Brynley Lipford doubled to left centerfield and scored on a double by Aynzley Smith. Back-to-back walks to Sydney Green and Georgia Adams loaded the bases. With two outs, Smith scored the final run of the inning on a passed ball.
In the fourth inning, offense was slim for Team Florida with a two-out single by Olivia Speers. The same was true of the fifth inning for Team Florida. With two outs, Olivia Speers singled straight up the middle but a strikeout left her on the bag at first. Ariah Dickens had the final hit for Team Florida in the top of the fifth inning, a single down third-base line.
Team Lumberton threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating three runs. Speers knuckled down and ended the inning and the game with back-to-back strikeouts with two left on base.