The Lady Patriots held off the Huskies from Hough who tried to erase a 4-run deficit in the late innings of an exciting softball game at Independence.

Both clubs scratched out a run in the first inning. Then in the top of the third inning the Huskies padded their lead scoring 3 more runs to take a 4-1 advantage. Indy rallied to cut the deficit to 2 runs in the bottom of the inning cutting into the Huskies lead 4-2.

However, in the fourth inning the Patriots exploded scoring 6 runs. Key hits by Sarah Johnson, Morgan Clark, Terris Adkins, Sofia Tristan, and a 3 run home run by Seven Hope, followed by a 2-run bomb by Natalie Johnson gave the Patriots an 8-4 lead.

The Huskies were not done, they began their comeback to make this game entertaining and keeping the final outcome in doubt until the final out was recorded. A huge defensive play was made by Olivia Baker in the fifth inning when she gunned down a Hough runner at home plate. Meanwhile, Anna Partridge, Mathea Brodland, Ashlyn Rogers, and Mia Khan played a major role in the final 3 innings of this contest. The ladies combined for 4 hits and 3 RBI’s during the final three frames forcing Independence to make a pitching change in the seventh inning. The bats blistered on both sides as Indy pounded out 10 hits and Hough 8 in the ballgame. Hough scored 2 runs in the sixth inning and delivered two hits and a run in the seventh to make it close.

In the seventh inning, Hough lead off with a double, the next batter fouled out to Indy catcher Natalie Johnson, the next hitter smacked a base hit driving in a run. Relief pitcher Maliyah Alexander struck out the next batter for the second out and ended the inning with a sharp ground out to the shortstop to first on a fine play.

Morgan Clark started the game for Indy. The right-hander surrendered 7 runs on 8 hits over six and third innings on the mound. While Alexander came in relief to earn the save getting the final two outs.

Natalie Johnson went 3-4 and blasted a 2-run home run, Sarah Johnson 2-3 with a double, Clark 2-4, and Seven Hope 1-2 with a 3-run homer to lead the Patriots offense.