Murphy – The Lady Bulldogs continued their winning ways, sweeping Andrews 15-0 and 19-4 in a two-game series last week.
Paisley Johnson only faced 15 batters, gave up only one hit and struck out nine to give Murphy (5-1) a 15-0 win in the first game of the week on March 26.
The Lady “Diamond Dogs” started slowly in the first inning, as they only managed one run to take a 1-0 lead. Helped by a couple of walks and an error, Murphy loaded the bases for Julia Dockery, who doubled to drive in two runs.
After Emma Hensley walked, Aiden Smith doubled to score two more runs. Paisley Johnson helped out her cause with a walk before Sania Wilson singled. Laney came up for her second time at bat in the inning and double in two more runs to give Murphy a 9-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
After retiring Andrews (0-4) in order in the top of the third, Murphy continued its scoring rampage. Dockery started it off with a single, Hensley tripled to bring her home and Smith’s single brought Hensley across the plate. Johnson drew her second walk of the game before Wilson hits a base-clearing double to score the four Murphy runs in the third to build the Lady Dogs’ lead to 13-0.
Taryn Morrow and Calli Rumfelt would score the final two runs for the Lady Dogs. They both walked to lead off the fourth inning. After two outs, Grace Moore singled to score Morrow.
Paisley Johnson walked to load the bases, and Olivia Ceberek walked to send the final run home in Murphy’s 15-0 win.
The Lady Dogs jumped out to a 2-0 in the second game of the series Thursday. Johnson started the game again on the mound and picked up where she left off.
Murphy took a 2-0 lead into the top of the second inning, and the Lady Dogs exploded for seven more runs. Taryn Moore leads the inning off with a walk, then Leena Lape also got a free pass before Dockery singled to score Moore and Hensley singled to score Lape.
Smith doubled to send both of those runners home. Johnson reached base as Smith scored; Johnson would later score on a Sani Wilson single. Wilson stole second and third bases before reaching home on a fielder’s choice.
Gracie Thrasher came onto pitch in the third inning and struggled at first, walking home a run. Rileigh Lequire walked home after the fourth free pass issued by Murphy pitching, and the bases were still loaded.
However, Thrasher settled down and retired the next three Andrews batters, stranding three on base. Murphy led 9-1 after two innings.
The Lady Dogs would add 10 more runs in the third inning. Leading the scoring rampage was Dockery and Hensley, who had two base hits apiece in the third inning, driving in over half of their team’s runs in the third. Addison England and Emma Laney also had base hits with RBI in the inning. Murphy led 19-1 going into the bottom of the third.
Andrews put up a valiant effort in the bottom of the third inning. Kinleigh Queen led off with a single, and Carley Clark followed with another single. Lequire brought Queen home on a ground ball, but that’s where the Lady Cats’ scoring ended.
Murphy will face Hiwassee Dam on Friday at Murphy. First pitch is at 4:30 p.m.
Andrews takes on Robbinsville with their next game Friday at home. First pitch is at 4:30 p.m.