Four batters in those odds went from short to long by about 240 feet.
Sophie Hall’s two-run home run in the seventh inning gave the Beavers much-needed breathing room as they staved off a Princeton comeback to secure a 10-6 win at Princeton, their first of the season Friday night in Princeton.
The blast highlighted a game that was on the verge of a mercy rule ending before the Tigers battled back.
Leading 7-0 with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Bluefield stranded them that way leaving the door open for the Tigers who kicked it in. Scoring three runs each in fifth and sixth innings the Tigers hopped off the mat and put the game in doubt.
“I looked at coach Monty (Williams) and I was like, ‘Hey, I’m a little bit worried,’ and he goes, ‘No, we’re going to have a big inning in the top of the seventh,'” Bluefield head coach Justin Hall said. “So we hit the dinger and had a good inning.”
For Princeton it was a game of missed opportunities.
Despite their late push, the Tigers left the bases loaded in the fourth inning and hit into a game-ending double play with a pair of runners on base.
“That ending was tough because we had baserunners every inning but that (fourth), especially with the bases loaded,” Princeton head coach Jimmy Robinson said. “I just thought we were going to have to squeeze one across and we did. So we finally came alive in the fifth and even the energy in the dugout picked up. If we’d have done that back in the fourth inning we win the game.”
Bluefield struck first, putting a three spot on the board when Olivia White doubled to plate Abby Matthews, Jaleigh Smith scored on a late throw to the plate and White found home on a fielding error by the Tigers.
They tacked on an additional run in the top of the fourth when speedster Taylor Mabry lined a double to score White again, extending the advantage to 4-0.
But the Tigers found some life in the bottom of the frame.
Abby Farley opened with a single before Shaylee Cook drew a walk to put the first two on.
Pitcher Maddie Lawson fanned the next two batters before a bunt single loaded the bases. With the tying run at the plate, Lawson got out of the jam with a strikeout, giving her team a boost that translated to the next frame.
“It was key to get out of the inning,” Hall said. “Maddie, she was on her game tonight and she’s building back into what she’s going to be which is freaking amazing. Right now she got the pitch calls right, she’s got the locations right and we were able to get out of it.”
The missed opportunities haunted the Tigers as Lawson turned right around and led off the top of the fifth with a single, scoring on an RBI single from Smith. White continued her terrific night with a single to plate Matthews and Olivia English. With the bases loaded for Bluefield, Princeton staved off a decisive mercy-rule run. And just like it had for the Beavers the inning before, stranding the bases loaded provided energy on the other end.
A Hayden Jones double gave Princeton its first run with an error and a walk providing two more runs. The rally continued into the sixth where Princeton pulled to within a run.
“We thought their pitcher was getting tired,” Robinson said. “We said we weren’t swinging unless we get a strike. We want her to work and labor and you’ve got to take advantage of anything you can and sure enough she started throwing a little bit wide. She’s a great pitcher but we got some walks and now the energy’s coming.”
The Beavers responded by throwing another wet blanket on the Tigers.
Mabry’s one-out RBI double extended the lead to 8-6 before Hall brought both home with her mammoth shot.
“That was a sigh of relief off the bat,” Coach Hall smiled. “She stroked it. It was a laser. Good ball.”
The Tigers didn’t fold easily getting a pair of runners on with one out but a grounder to Audra Rockness at short stop was taken to second base and relayed to first in time for the game-ending double play.
“In the top of the seventh we were in a similar boat as their pitcher,” Robinson said. “Our pitcher was getting kind of tired. She’s getting a little gassed and she was still throwing goof but she missed a couple of spots. She’s an excellent, excellent pitcher but when she misses a little bit whether it’s on the corner or brings it over the middle they’ve got their timing down because they’ve seen her three of four times through the lineup.”
Mabry led the Beavers with four hits and two RBI while Sophie Hall and Olivia White collected three hits each. Jones and Ivie Radford paced Princeton with a pair of hits on the loss.
