Clinton’s Lady Dark Horse softball team hosted the Pender Lady Patriots on Tuesday night and for the better part of seven innings it appeared as if Clinton might finally get in the win column. In the end however, Pender scratched out three runs in the top of the eighth inning to earn a 9-6 win over the improving Lady Horses.
The Lady Patriots put two runs on the board in the first but Clinton kept it close when Callie Sumner led off the home half of the first with a hit, stole a base and scored on a fielders choice by Sydney Simmons to cut the lead to 2-1.
Clinton’s Kris Glasper led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and eventually scored to tie the game, but the Lady Horses were unable to take the lead. Pender plated four runs to take a 6-2 lead in the top of the fifth and looked poised to blow the game open but Clinton refused to lie down. In the bottom of the fifth Clinton scored four runs to tie the game again with Kris Glasper scoring the game tying run on a passed ball.
Both teams got base runners in the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to score sending the game into an extra frame. Pender opened the Eighth inning with a couple base hits and eventually would score three runs to go ahead 9-6. Clinton got a base runner in the bottom of the inning but a line drive to second base resulted in the runner being doubled up and ended the game at 9-6.
Kris Glasper pitched Eight innings for the Lady Horses, striking out one and walking two. Glasper was also the offensive leader for the Lady Horses, scoring two runs and going 3 for 4 at the plate with a stolen base. Callie Sumner, Cassie Bradshaw, Jessica Hamilton, Sydney Simmons and Naomi Miller each had one hit apiece for Clinton.
After the game Clinton head coach Ashley Slater said, “we had our full roster on hand for the first time all season tonight and played the best we have all year. Kris did a great job pitching for us and we had a chance to get a win tonight. We are improving each time out, I am proud of how our girls competed tonight.”
The close loss drops Clinton to 0-11 overall and 0-8 in conference play. Clinton will host Union on Wednesday with both teams in search of their first win of the season.