Early offense gives Tigers win in Florida finale

After a pitcher's duel earlier in the day against Avila, the Tiger bats were eager to show their strength against Webber International. They delivered with 4 runs in the 1st 2 innings and held on for a 7-5 win to sweep their final day in Florida.

Kaylyn Barnett led off the game with a single up the middle. She would motor around the bases and score thanks to a deep double from Stevie Shepherd. Mallory Myers followed with a single, sending Shepherd to 3rd. After Myers stole 2nd, the Tigers would add a run as Shepherd scored on a passed ball, and Myers hustled to 3rd. 2 batters later, Cassie Rannells found space on the right side, scoring Myers and giving Georgetown a 3-0 lead after the top of the 1st.

Kelsie Hill was on the mound for the Tigers to start. She walked the leadoff batter, who reached 2nd on a wild pitch. The Tiger defense then came to Hill's aid as they turned a double play on a lineout to right field, erasing the threat in the bottom of the 1st.

While the Tigers slowly manufactured runs in the 1st, Maria Fratangelo had other ideas in the top of the 2nd. Fratangelo launched a bomb over the wall to put the Tigers up 4-0 in the 2nd. Hill went back to work on the mound in the bottom of the inning and worked around a single to get out of the inning unscathed.

The teams would go scoreless in the 3rd and 4th innings, setting up an exciting 5th inning. In the top half, Stevie Shepherd led off with a single and got to 2nd on a wild pitch. 2 batters later, Sarah Claxon would slap a ball down the right field line, moving Shepherd to 3rd. Brooke Chick pinch ran for Claxon and immediately took 2nd, one of 4 stolen bases in the game for Georgetown. Peyton Beger would step in and lace a double down the left field line, scoring both Shepherd and Chick, putting Georgetown up 6-0. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th, Webber began its rally. A single, HBP, and double, brought 2 runs home to get Webber on the board. A 3rd run would score on a fielding error and would temporarily end the day for Kelsie Hill. She would give way to Emma Cummings, who was able to work the Tigers out of the jam and carry a 6-3 lead to the 6th.

After a scoreless 6th, Georgetown played add-on in the top of the 7th. Sarah Claxon singled once more and got to 2nd on a fielder's choice. Peyton Beger reached on an error, which sent Claxon to 3rd. Destiny Wallace came in to run for Beger with runners at the corners. Wallace induced a throwing error as she stole second, which scored Claxon, giving the Tigers a 7-3 lead going to the bottom of 7.

Webber threatened again in the 7th. After an error put the leadoff runner on, the Warriors followed with consecutive doubles, scoring 2 runs and bringing the score to 7-5. Kelsie Hill returned to the mound and immediately got 2 outs. A single would bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but Hill responded and the final batter for the Warriors poked a harmless fly ball to left to end the game.

Hill picked up the win, going 5.2 innings, allowing 8 hits and 2 earned runs. 5 Tigers had multiple hits on the day, with the team finishing with 13 hits in total. The team returns home on Tuesday for a mid-week doubleheader against Midway out at the Tiger Softball Complex. The first pitch of Game 1 is set for 2:00pm.