Lady Indians drop eighth inning decision, will play elimination game Friday night

COLUMBUS-A passed ball and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning led to the winning run to score as the Lassiter Lady Trojans defeated the East Coweta Lady Indians 4-3 in the winner’s bracket game of the 7A Elite Eight Tournament played Friday at South Commons Complex.

The Lady Indians fell to 29-5 with the loss and will face either Parkview or Lowndes in a 7 PM elimination contest tonight while Lassiter (27-5) will play tomorrow morning against an unknown opponent.

The game was tied at 3-3 when the inning began with  Piper Vichales on second under the International Tie Breaker rule.

The pitch from EC starter Lynch got away from catcher Caroline Lively allowing Vichales to advance to third before Avery Webster hit a flyball to Hanna Miller in left field.

Miller came home with the throw but it was offline as Vichales touched the plate.

The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the third inning until a throwing error allowed a Lassiter base runner to score but the Lady Indians took advantage of fielding miscues in the top of the fifth inning with three runs to take the lead.

Lively and Carmen Prior reached on force plays but Lindsay “Lulu” Warren had some two out magic in her bat as she singled to left to score courtesy runner Krys Odum and a throwing error on the play allowed Prior to come home and Warren to advance to third.

Davis followed with a single and the faithful appeared confident with the lead and Lynch on the pitching rubber.

The Lady Indians had a chance to add to the lead in the top of the sixth as Rachel Vaughan singled, Aniston Wright reached on an error and Ashlynn Gunter reached on a walk.

However, Lassiter reliever Piper Wagner was able to keep EC off the board as she induced an infield fly and a pair of force outs including one at home plate.

The bottom of the seventh inning started well for the Lady Indians as Lynch induced a groundout and after allowing a single, she was able to record another strikeout.

Lynch appeared to have the final out as a ground ball was hit to Gunter at third base but the umpire ruled the batter safe and the winning run was coming to the plate.

Blake Neieman hit a deep flyball to Warren in center field and the latter appeared to making a great catch to end the game.

However, as Warren made the play, she crashed into the temporary fence, forcing the ball to come loose and two runners came home to tie the game at 3-3.

Lynch, who allowed five hits and five walks, recorded the final out with her 12th strikeout of the game to force extra inning.

The Lady Indians were unable to score in the top of the eighth inning as Vaughan could only reach third.