Vaughan fires two-hitter as EC defeats Ola 4-0

SHARPSBURG-Rachel Vaughn was unable to pitch back-to-back no hitters, but the senior had another effective start as the East Coweta Lady Indians defeated the Ola Lady Mustangs 4-0 Monday in the last game of the Georgia Dugout Club tournament.

The Lady Indians, who won four other games during the event improved to 7-0 on the season as they will face the Westlake Lady Lions in a Region 2-7A matchup at home beginning at 5:30.

Vaughan, who pitched a no-hitter in East Coweta’s 8-0 win over Pike County Saturday morning, retired the first five batters of the game with two strikeouts and a pair of balls hit to first baseman Olivia Cook before hitting a batter and surrendering a single.

Meanwhile, her teammates gave her a lead to play with as they scored twice in the bottom of the first inning.

Lilly Agan raced her way toward a single and second base on an error before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Olivia Davis before coming home on a single to right by Kelley Lynch.

Lynch advanced to third on a double by Ashlynn Gunter and eventually came home with the other run of the frame when Aniston Wright grounded out.

The Lady Indians added to the lead in the bottom of the third inning as Gunter led off the frame by getting plunked by a pitch and after stealing second was able to score on a double by Wright who had two RBIs in the game.

Meanwhile, Vaughan was making the most of a 3-0 lead as she controlled the Lady Mustangs for the majority of the contest including a string in which she retired nine batters in a row from the second inning through the top of the sixth when a batter reached on an infield error.

The Lady Indians added the final tally of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as Agan singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and coming home on a single by Lynch.

In the top of the seventh inning, Vaughan struggled a little in the heat with a pair of walks but the lefty survived as a ground ball was hit to Gunter at third who threw to first to end a two-hit, six strikeout performance.

NOTES: The shutout over the Lady Mustangs was the fifth in seven games so far this season for the Lady Indians. They allowed two runs to Lassiter on August 11 and an unearned run to Northgate last Wednesday in a 10-1 win.

During the tournament, Vaughn had two shutouts while Lynch and Wright each recorded one. Wright allowed three hits and recorded six strikeouts in a 3-0 win over Richmond Hill on Friday.