With a 13-10 victory Tuesday over visiting Middlesboro, the Harlan Lady Dragons topped their win total from a year ago as they improved to 7-8 after a 6-21 finish last season.
It’s no secret behind the Lady Dragons’ improvement. Harlan reached double digits in scoring for the eighth time with a 17-hit attack. Middlesboro took a 10-7 lead with a seven-run fifth inning, but Harlan responded with three runs in fifth and sixth innings.
Ella Farley led the Harlan offense with a double and two singles. Gracie Hensley singled three times. Addison Jackson and Ella Lisenbee each contributed a double and single. Ava Nunez and Abbi Fields added two singles each. Amy Roman and Jordyn Smith contributed one double each. Rhileigh Estes had a single.
Mallory McNiel gave up seven runs on six hits over four innings, with two strikeouts and five walks. Smith earned the win in relief as she gave up three runs (all unearned) on four hits four strikeouts and one walk over three innings.
Alexis Middleton led the Middlesboro offense with a double and double for three RBI. Kenna Lawson singled twice. Kennedy Yoakum had a triple. Kaylee Lawson, Raehgan Moyers, Kolbi Mason, Abney Allen and Madilynn Jackson added one single each.
Kaylee Lawson gave up four runs on nine his over two innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Kenna Lawson allowed nine runs (four earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks over four innings.
Middlesboro (6-10 overall, 0-2 district) will travel to Campbell County, Tenn., on Thursday and play a home-and-away series on April 22-23 against Bell County. Harlan (7-8 overall, 1-0 district) plays host to Bell County on Thursday.
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Middlesboro 030 070 0 — 10 10 4
Harlan 112 333 x — 13. 17. 2
Kaylee Lawson, Kenna Lawson (3) and Middleton; McNiel, Smith (5) and Jackson. WP — Smith. LP — Kenna Lawson.