Fort Scott softball sweeps Columbus

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Fort Scott High School's softball team swept Columbus in a Southeast Kansas League doubleheader at Don Hewett Field Thursday night by scores of 7-1 and 1-0.

The Tigers' Friday league twin bill with Coffeyville, also scheduled to be played in Fort Scott, was postponed because there wasn't a dry field on which to play.

With only one week left in the season, there may not be a mutual open date for the teams to reschedule those games.

The Tigers are scheduled to play another SEK doubleheader Monday against Iola at Don Hewett Field.

Fort Scott is in first place in the SEK with a 9-0 league mark and 10-1 overall record.

Iola was in second place at 5-1, 6-2 going into a Friday doubleheader at Independence.

The Fillies are also scheduled to host Coffeyville this afternoon, which will make Monday's doubleheader their third in four days.

Columbus (6-6, 6-10) managed to work Tiger pitcher Erica Davis for five walks in the first game of the SEK twin bill, the most she's allowed this season. But Davis allowed only three hits and struck out 15 batters and the Titans stranded seven runners.

Columbus' mistakes allowed the Tigers to get on the board in the third inning after they fell behind 1-0.

Jade Weeter and Elise Nation both drew walks and eventually scored on wild pitches. Davis scored the final run of the inning when she came after a dropped fly ball in the outfield.

In the fifth, Peyton Riedel started things off with a single. Jamie Collins and Morgan Tourtillott walked to load the bases for Amanda Bowles, who brought all three runners home with a triple to left-center. Bowles later scored herself to cap the Tigers' scoring.

Riedel went three for four at the plate. Bowles had three runs batted in.

The only run of the second game scored in the sixth inning.

Riedel led off with a single. Jenna Harper came in to pinch run and stole second. Bowles followed with a hit to right-center field to bring Harper in.

Metcalf credited assistant coach Jim Barrows with making the call for Harper to steal.

The Tiger defense also made big plays behind Davis. There were no errors in this one as opposed to two in the opener.

"We came up with some big defensive plays in the infield and the outfield," Metcalf said. "Morgan made a shoestring catch in center and a heads-up play by throwing a runner out at second.

"Elise Nation came up big in the infield with a snag for the third out of the second to keep Columbus from scoring."

Davis allowed two hits and struck out nine. This was the first time this season she didn't strike out at least 10 batters but it was also the third time this year she has not allowed a walk.

Riedel and Weeter each had two hits. Sammi Newton had a double.

NOTES -- Iola still doesn't have it as tough as Independence in terms of getting a lot of games played in a short amount of time.

The Bulldogs were not only scheduled to play Friday but also four more times next week. Including their Thursday sweep of Pittsburg, the 'Dogs will finish the regular season with six doubleheaders in nine days....