By Bill Templeton
Sports Writer
A run-scoring single off the bat of senior Addison Lawson in the bottom of the seventh inning propelled host Middlesboro to a 5-4 win Tuesday over 52nd District rival Harlan County.
The win by the Lady Jackets was their third in four district games this season and pushed their overall record to 7-9.
The first of Lawson’s three hits plated senior teammate Trinity Partin with the game’s first run with one out in the bottom of the third inning. Middlesboro tacked on two additional runs in the frame on an RBI-single by sophomore Lily Partin and a Harlan County error.
The Lady Bears scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the margin to 3-2. Freshmen Jordyn Smith and Jaylin Robinson each recorded RBI-singles.
Harlan County scored two runs in its half of the sixth inning on run-scoring singles by junior Alexis Adams and freshman Bella Miniard to take a 4-3 lead, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
Trinity Partin led off with a single to center field and later scored the tying run following a bunt single by eighth-grader Aubrie Womack and an error by Harlan County. Senior Kenna Lawson followed with a single to put runners at the corners, and the single by Addison Lawson scored Womack.
Both teams recorded 10 hits. Harlan County got three hits from Adams and two hits from Julionna Johnson, while Smith, Miniard, Robinson, Carmen Thomas and Alyssa Sherman (double) also recorded hits for the Lady Bears.
Trinity Partin collected four hits for Middlesboro, with Womack, Kenna Lawson and Lily Partin each recording singles for the Lady Jackets.
Lily Partin went the distance inside the circle for Middlesboro to notch the win. She walked four Lady Bears and did not record a strikeout. Adams pitched six solid innings for Harlan County, yielding just two walks and recording 10 strikeouts.
Next up for Harlan County (11-7) is a road game Friday in Rogersville, Tenn., to face Cherokee. Middlesboro travels Thursday to face Corbin.
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Harlan County 0001120 – 4.10.4
Middlesboro 0030002 – 5.10.3
Adams and Robinson; L. Partin and Womack. WP – L. Partin. LP – Adams (7-6).
