Vaughan dominates on pitching rubber, Gunters at the plate in EC win over UG

Photo courtesy of Nicole Vaughan

McDONOUGH-Any thoughts of a lull following the win over rival Newnan evaporated quickly on Friday as Rachel Vaughn fired a two-hitter and recorded nine strikeouts to lead the East Coweta Lady Indians to a 9-0 win over the Union Grove Lady Wolverines.

The win improved the Lady Indians’ overall record to 17-0 while Union Grove fell to 9-8 after the non-region contest.

The Lady Wolverines threatened to score first as Vaughan allowed a single to Emily Coltharp and a one out walk to Leslie Cochran but consecutive strikeouts by the senior lefthander ended the threat.

In the top of the second inning, the Lady Indians were able to take advantage of their scoring opportunity as Ashlynn Gunter reached on leadoff single and eventually came home on a two out single by Ansley Gunter.

Rachel Vaughan had a dominating night on the mound
Friday night at Union Grove as she allowed two hits, one walk, one hit batter
 and nine strikeouts

After Vaughan breezed through the bottom of the second inning with a groundout and two strikeouts, EC was able to add to the lead in the top of the third as Lilly Agan utilized her speed for a double and moved to third on a wild pitch before coming home on a sacrifice fly by Kelley Lynch.

Olivia Davis accounted for the other run in the inning as she came home on a double by Ashlynn Gunter.

The Lady Indians weren’t finished adding to the lead as Carmen Prior opened the top of the fourth inning with a single while Agan reached on a walk.

After both advanced on a groundout by Davis, Lynch hit a ground ball that was mishandled in the infield and Prior came home from with the fourth run of the game.

A two-run double by Ashlynn Gunter accounted for a 6-0 lead and gave the senior infielder a 3-for-3 evening at the plate.

Union Grove changed pitchers in the top of the fifth inning but EC remained in a scoring mood as they added three more runs in the top of the frame.

Vaughan walked to open the inning and Ansley Gunter collected her second hit of the game with a single to center field.

Caison Byars came off the bench to lay down a sacrifice bunt that advanced courtesy runner Kenadie Cooper and pinch runner Katie Taylor into scoring position.

Prior made her second hit of the game count as her single to left scored Cooper from third and moved Taylor to third who later scored on a wild pitch.

The final run scored when a ball was mishandled in the infield allowing Prior to race home.

Meanwhile, the benefactor of the run support was able to dominate the Lady Wolverine bats as Vaughan was able to get 14 first pitch strikes on the 19 batters that came to the plate in the game.

She also had three innings where Union Grove was retired in order with a hit batter interrupting the streak.

Next on the EC schedule is a trip to where for a date with the Alexander Lady Cougars on Monday in a rematch of the two clubs.

The Lady Indians were 8-0 winners on August 23 in a game played in Sharpsburg that was called after six innings.

In that game, Hanna Miller and Ashlynn Gunter hit home runs while Agan and Davis had triples and Lynch had a no-hitter.