Lady Cats walk over Spartans

HALFWAY — The Union/Cove softball team swept Pine Eagle Friday. 

The Lady Cats took the first game 18-3 and rallied for a 13-11 decision in Game 2.

Both games turned into walk-a-thons, as Union/Cove drew 19 walks in Game 1 while recording 13 hits. With the game tied at one in the top of the third inning, the Lady Cats struck for four runs, then added two in the fifth and two in the sixth before blowing the game open with a nine-run seventh.

Amber Fiorito went three for four with three RBIs and two doubles. Dani Sturm got the win on the mound, going six innings, striking out seven while allowing seven hits.

Game 2 was a little more of a struggle for Union/Cove.

After the Lady Cats jumped out to a 6-3 lead after the top of the fourth inning, the Spartans used a four-run bottom half of the fourth to take the lead. Pine Eagle added to the lead with a run in the fifth inning before the Lady Cats tied the game with a pair of runs in the sixth.

The back-and-forth action continued in the bottom half of the inning, as the Spartans regained the lead with three runs.

But Union/Cove scored runs when it needed to, and got five runs in the top of the seventh to pull out the win and start out 2-0 in Special District 6.

Sturm got the win in relief of starter Carsyn Roberts. The two teams combined for 29 walks in the game. Kaci Langford and Celina Hefner both had two-run singles in the seventh inning.

“That one gave me a lot of grey hairs,” coach Paul Phillips said. 

“We didn’t have our best game, but we hit the ball well I thought.”

Union/Cove will now take some time off before returning to the field April 20 when it plays host to Elgin.