Tigers fight hard on Senior Day

Georgetown Softball honored its 4 seniors ahead of Saturday's series-opener against Cumberlands. Stevie Shepherd, Taylor Craft, Alanna Pierce, and Emma Cummings did all they could to lead the Tigers to an upset win over the MSC-unbeaten Patriots, but came up just short in a 4-2 loss.

Emma Cummings got the ball to start. With 1 out and 1 on, Cummings made a rare mistake on this day as Carly Oliver laced a 2-run homer clear over the left field fence to give the Patriots the quick lead. After another single, Cummings settled in and retired the next 2 to negate a bigger inning for Cumberlands. Georgetown's offense showed it was ready to play against the Patriots vaunted pitching staff. With 1 out in the bottom of the 1st, Michalee Clay reached base and stole 2nd. Two batters later, Kinley Lucas hit a seeing-eye single into right. Clay motored around 3rd and beat the throw to the plate to get Georgetown on the board.

Cummings went the next 3 innings allowing just 2 singles that amounted to nothing for Cumberlands. Georgetown's bats then went back to work in the bottom of the 4th. Ainsley Herron singled with 1 out and stole 2nd. She moved to 3rd on a Kady Dennis groundout. Alanna Pierce then made her presence felt on Senior Day with a solid single to left to bring Herron home and tie the game at 2 heading to the 5th.

The game remained tied going to the 6th. With 1 out, Cummings made her 2nd mistake of the day as Cumberlands' Bailey Turnbow hit a line drive homerun to left to put the Patriots back up, 3-2. Cummings bounced back to retire the side. Georgetown had a shot to get back level in the bottom of the inning. Michalee Clay walked and stole 2nd. 2 batters later, Kinley Lucas hit a sharp grounder to 3rd that was initially misplayed by the 3rd baseman. Clay saw the bobble and took off for 3rd, but the ball was corraled and Clay was tagged out ahead of the bag for the 2nd out. Ainsley Herron grounded out to end the inning.

Cumberlands added another run in the top of the 7th to take a 4-2 lead to the bottom of the 7th. Kady Dennis led off the bottom of the 7th with a single to center. Taylor Craft came in to run and moved to 2nd after Haylee Stansbury drew a walk. A fielder's choice followed to put runners on the corners with 2 out. Stevie Shepherd then hit a sharp grounder up the middle but it was snagged by the Patriots near 2nd base. A step on the bag ended the game.

Emma Cummings took the loss despite a strong 6.1 innings pitched. The 2 home runs allowed proved the difference in the near upset. The Tigers will look for a bounceback on Sunday's regular season finale. The doubleheader starts at 12:00pm.