Franklinton blanks Salmen, defeats Pearl River in District 8-4A games

Published 7:00 am Friday, March 25, 2016

SLIDELL — Franklinton had a seven-run inning and an eight-run inning in a 16-0 victory over Salmen in five innings on the road Tuesday.

The Lady Demons pounded out 15 hits, including at least one in every inning of the District 8-4A contest.

Franklinton took a 1-0 lead in the first. Madison LaSalle, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs, reached on an error and scored two batters later when Bailey Spears doubled to left centerfield. Spears finished with two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

Salmen had a chance to score in the first, as the Lady Spartans had a one-out rally. Harlie Johnson singled with one out before Alexis Vallory walked and Harleigh Pittman reached on an error to load the bases.

The next batter hit a grounder to third. Bethany Sandifer threw to catcher Alaina Fussell for the force out at home. Fussell’s throw to first hit the runner in the back and Vallory came in to score the apparent tying run. After an appeal by Franklinton, the umpires talked it over and ruled the runner going to first was not in the running lane. She was ruled out and the run did not count. The Lady Demons led 1-0 after one inning.

Franklinton scored seven runs in the second to go up 8-0.

With one out, Stephanie Crowe, who singled twice, got hit by a pitch twice, drove in a run and scored two runs, was hit by a pitch and Fussell was hit by a pitch as well. Morgan Stafford singled to left field, but a bobble by the fielder allowed Crowe to score the second run. LaSalle then singled to center to load the bases.

Lexi Williams, who recorded two hits, an RBI and two runs scored, made it 3-0 with an RBI single, plating courtesy runner Alyssa Menard. Spears reached on an error, sending Stafford to the plate. LaSalle scored on a wild pitch for a 5-0 lead.

Emma Bowman, who doubled twice, drove in a run and scored two, then hit a two-run double that scored Williams and Spears for a 7-0 lead. Bowman tallied later in the inning on an RBI single by Crowe.

“I thought they played really good, as far as adjusting to that slow pitcher,” Franklinton coach Leslie McGhee said. “To me, I think that’s really hard as a hitter to go from one speed to the next.”

McGhee said her team saw a much faster pitcher in Monday’s 6-5 win over Pearl River. She noted that Salmen’s pitcher threw slower with a higher arc.

“They did well adjusting to that pitch,” McGhee said.

The run support in the second inning was plenty for pitcher Miley. After the first, Miley retired the next nine hitters she faced and only allowed one more base runner the rest of the game. That was on a hit by pitch to Marque Chambers.

Miley allowed just one hit over the five innings. She struck out five, walked one and hit one.

“She’s doing an excellent job,” McGhee said. “She’s really stepped up this year. She shows no emotion on the mound and she’s tough. It doesn’t matter what I ask her to do, she’s going to do it.”

The game remained 8-0 through four innings before the Lady Demons added eight runs on seven hits in the fifth.

Miley also helped herself at the plate by drawing a walk that led to a run. Sandifer doubled and scored. Fussell drove in a run.

Stafford finished with three hits, an RBI and two runs scored.

Menard scored two runs and Laynea Stafford tallied one.

In Monday’s game, Franklinton defeated Pearl River, 6-5.

LaSalle, Miley and Bowman recorded two hits each.

LaSalle doubled, drove in three and scored a run while Bowman doubled and scored a run.

Spears, Crowe and Fussell all finished with one hit. Spears and Fussell drove in a run each and Crowe scored two runs.

Sandifer and Laynea Stafford scored a run each for the Lady Demons.

Miley was the winning pitcher.