Claxon deals complete game shutout
Georgetown kicked off Mid-South Conference play against UT-Southern on Saturday. The opener of the 3-game set turned into a pitcher's duel, but the Tigers' Sarah Claxon had the goods as she fired a complete game shutout, leading Georgetown to a 2-0 win.
Claxon issued a walk to the second batter in the bottom of the 1st, but otherwise was not threatened in the inning. She followed that batter by getting the next on a strikeout looking and a harmless fly out to end the inning. She got help from the offensive immediately in the bottom of the 1st. Kaylyn Barnett led off with a solo bomb to left field, putting GC on the board. The Tigers would load the bases in the inning but could not add to the lead.
The Tigers faced trouble in the top of the 2nd as the Firehawks drew 2 walks and an infield single to load the bases with 1 out. Claxon fought through, inducing a fielder's choice out at the plate, then getting a lineout to end the threat and leave the bases full of Firehawks.
The offense came through in the bottom of the 3rd to help their ace on the mound. With 1 out, Stevie Shepherd tripled down the left field line. 2 batters later, Cassie Rannells brought Shepherd home after an error at first base, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead after 3.
In the 4th, UT-Southern got a leadoff double but Claxon kept her cool, getting 2 groundouts around a sacrifice to keep the shut out intact. Georgetown would threaten in the bottom of the inning. Haylee Stansbury led off with a single up the middle and got to 2nd on a Maria Fratangelo groundout. Stansbury would get to 3rd on a wild pitch as Kaylyn Barnett drew a walk. Barnett then danced between first and second, trying to induce a rundown to get Stansbury home; however Barnett was tagged out before the run scored, keeping the game at 2-0.
After a 1-2-3 5th inning, UT-Southern would put 2 runners on in the 6th, but Claxon induced a ground ball to Mallory Myers at 1st to preserve the shut out. As Claxon took the mound in the 7th, the Firehawks had 1 last charge. With 2 out, UT-Southern got a walk and a single, and after a stolen base, had the tying run at 2nd base. Claxon induced a pop-up between the mound and third and before Claxon could react, Kaylyn Barnett came in with an outstanding diving catch to end the game.
Sarah Claxon improved to 2-1 on the year, allowing just 5 hits over the 7 innings on 93 pitches. The Tigers will go for the series win on Saturday, starting at Noon.