MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Warren Lady Jacks continued their dominant start to the season, holding off the Drew Central Lady Pirates for a hard-fought 8-7 victory on the road Tuesday night.
By David King, SRN Softball Contributor
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Warren wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard, plating two runs in the top of the first despite leaving the bases loaded. The Lady Jacks’ early momentum carried over to the bottom half, where their defense retired Drew Central in order to maintain a 2-0 lead.
The Lady Jacks’ offense remained steady in the second inning, adding three more runs on three hits and two walks to stretch their lead to 5-0. However, Drew Central answered with a surge of its own, collecting six hits and pushing four runs across to tighten the contest at 5-4.
Warren manufactured a run in the fourth to make it 6-4, but the Lady Pirates loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half. The Lady Jacks’ defense held firm, allowing just one run to preserve a narrow 6-5 lead.
Raeleigh Milton delivered an RBI single to give Warren another two-run cushion, and a flawless bottom of the fourth kept the Lady Jacks in control at 7-5.
Drew Central clawed back once more in the fifth, using three hits to even the score at 7-7. Warren threatened with two runners on in the sixth but left them stranded before shutting down the Lady Pirates in order in the bottom half.
In the top of the seventh, the Johnson sisters came through in the clutch, delivering back-to-back triples to give Warren an 8-7 advantage. The Lady Jacks then retired the heart of Drew Central’s lineup in order to secure the win and remain undefeated at 5-0.
Ember Johnson led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and the game-winning RBI. Haven Johnson finished 3-for-5 with three runs, including the game-winner. Charlee Wardlaw drove in a run, while Bayleigh Miller worked three walks and scored a run. Raeleigh Milton, who added an RBI single, picked up her fifth win in the circle, improving to 5-0 on the season.
Warren (5-0) looks to keep its unbeaten streak alive as they continue their road schedule.
