With seven losses in their last eight games, the Harlan County Lady Bears are having to learn how to win again and played that way Monday after grabbing a 13-1 lead after two innings against visiting Barbourville.
Harlan County was unable to put the game away early due to base-running blunders and sloppy defense through the middle innings but stayed in control on the way to a 16-7 victory.
Sophomore third baseman Lindsey Skidmore led an 14-hit attack with four hits in four at bats from the ninth spot in the HCHS order. Jade Burton added two doubles and a single with three RBI. Aviya Halccomb and Halanah Shepherd had two singles each. Alexis Adams added a three-run triple. Jenna Wilson contributed a double. Lesleigh Brown added a single.
Alexis Adams earned the win as she allowed four runs on five hits in four innings, with 10 strikeout and seven walked. Alyssa Sherman allowed three runs on four hits over three innings with no strikeouts and one walk to record a save.
Lindsey Thomas led the 1-9 Tigers with a double and single. Makenna Stewart singled twice. Carley Clark, Katie Lewis and Aubrey Woolum added one single each.
Kaitlyn McDonald started in the circle for Barbourville and gave up eight runs on four hits while recording only one out. Thomas allowed seven runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Burton had a two-run double and Skidmore added a two-run single as HCHS scored eight runs in the first inning. Adams added a bases-clearing triple in the second inning as the lead grew to 13-1.
Barbourville scored four runs in the third inning with the help of three wild pitches with runners on third, including one when Adams apparently forgot to cover the plate.
Harlan County scored one run each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and could have won the game earlier if not for mistakes on the bases. Skidmore didn’t run from second on a fly ball to left with two outs and was left stranded at third when the inning ended. Two other HC runners were thrown out at home.
The 4-11 Lady Bears travel to Bell County on Tuesday.
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Barbourville 104 020 0 — 7. 9. 3
Harlan County 850 111 x — 16. 14. 3
McDonald, Thomas (1) and Woolum; Adams, Sherman (5) and Burton. WP — Adams (4-6). LP — McDonald. SV — Sherman (1).