FSCC softball drops pair to Neosho County

Fort Scott Community College's softball dropped both ends of a Jayhawk Conference-Division II doubleheader to Neosho County at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex Wednesday afternoon, 19-2 and 12-10. The games were moved from Tuesday due to cold weather.

Greyhound bats were cold in game one. Although Fort Scott finished with 7 hits, they didn't score until the fourth inning. Neosho County (4-2 division, 6-10 overall following a sweep at the hands of Hutchinson on Thursday) scored 6 in the top of the first inning and led 18-0 before the 'Hounds (1-3, 11-14) got on the board.

Dallas Howard had 2 hits for Fort Scott, one of which was a double. Neosho County pitcher Abby Brickey (4-3) allowed no earned runs and no walks while striking out 6 in a complete game.

Neosho County scored first in game two as well but this time just once. Fort Scott took its first lead of the day in the bottom of the inning. Cheyenne Brewer hit a one-out single to center, then advanced to third on an error. Brewer scored when Kaylan Morgan had a hit and two extra bases on an error. Hayley Bledsoe's groundout scored Morgan.

Neosho County evened the score in the top of the second when Katelynn Stucky hit a one-out solo home run. Fort Scott went back in front, 4-2, in the bottom of the third on Lauren Scott's 2-run homer that also scored Bledsoe. The top of the third was the first of the day in which the Panthers failed to score.

Fort Scott added another run in the fourth when Morgan's 2-out single scored Jackie Kirkpatrick, who led off the inning with a single.

Neosho County scored 4 in the top of the fifth to reclaim the lead, 6-5. Scott led off the bottom of the inning with a double and two errors helped bring her home to tie the score. However, the Greyhounds left the bases loaded.

The Panthers scored 4 in the top of the sixth to go in front, 10-6. The inning included a 2-run homer by Robbie Summers.

Fort Scott tied the score in the bottom of the inning. Morgan led off with a double and got to third on a passed ball. Bledsoe reached when Neosho's catcher dropped a third strike. Scott hit her second homer of the day to bring the 'Hounds within 10-9. Then Aubrey Smith reached base on an error. Rachel Merrick came on to pinch run and stole second. She scored when Kirkpatrick hit a 2-out triple.

Cheyenne Bryant led off Neosho County's half of the seventh and reached base on an error. She moved to second on a passed ball and third on a ground out. Lily Ross hit a 2-out single to center to push Bryant across with the winning run. Ross later scored the insurance run on an error.

In the bottom of the inning, Panther relief pitcher Taylor Easley (1-0) got the Greyhounds out in order, striking out the last two batters.

Scott was 4 for 4 for the Greyhounds, driving in 5 runs. Kirkpatrick was 3 for 3 and Morgan 3 for 5. Ross was 4 for 5, driving in 3 runs for Neosho County.

Fort Scott played a conference doubleheader Friday at Independence and will be on the road for another conference twinbill this afternoon at Cowley.

Game One

Fort Scott.. 000 11x x -- 2 7 3

WP -- Brickey (4-3). LP -- Smith (3-6).

HR -- none.

Game Two

Fort Scott.. 202 114 0 -- 10 13 4

WP -- Easley (1-0). LP -- Bledsoe (4-4).

HR -- Neosho County: Stucky (2, 2nd inn., none on, 1 out), Summers (1, 6th inn., 1 on, 2 out). Fort Scott: Scott 2 (8, 3rd inn., 1 on, none out; 6th inn., 2 on, none out).