The Bluejays had won the 275 Conference with two victories over Platte Valley, but since then, they came into the game on a hitting slump, having dropped three out of their last four coming into Monday's game. The game started off as a pitching duel. Hadley DeFreece tried to bunt her way on, but Tiger pitcher Brooklyn Richardson alertly gloved it for an out. Autumn Cousatte singled to center to lead off the Tiger first, and Brooklyn Richardson bunted to the mound to advance her to second. Kynah Steele popped out and third baseman Lindsey Jackson caught it against the fence, but nobody was covering third and Cousatte advanced. Hailey Adwell hit a hard line drive, but shortstop Jill Boswell robbed her to end the inning.
As Tiger pitcher Brooklyn Richardson had her screwball working, Ali Brown singled to right with one out in the Tiger second. Brylee Rush was called out on strikes, but Lanie Cousatte singled to right. Rylee Ruckman walked to load the bases. Autumn Cousatte hit a pop fly behind third that Lindsey Jackson bobbled several times, but held on to for the final out.
Baylie Busby finally hit one hard off Richardson, but right at second baseman Lanie Cousatte for an out. With two outs, Worth County got the first run in the third as Hailey Adwell singled to left just past Boswell. Kara Staton singled between third and short, and Ali Brown singled to right center to put the Tigers up 1-0.
Hadley DeFreece walked to lead off the Bluejay fourth; walks frequently lead to runs, and that's what happened here. Meredith Adwell popped out to Steele, but Jill Boswell was barely knicked by a screwball that got away from Richardson. Jaden Atkins laid down a perfect bunt and first baseman Abbi Brown dropped the throw and it rolled away as two runs scored. But Worth County recovered the ball and threw out Atkins trying to take third and Richardson struck out Makenzie Pride on a change to prevent further damage.
With one out in the Tiger fourth, Rylee Ruckman hit a pop fly that tailed away from Hadley DeFreece, and Ruckman beat out the throw for a scratch hit. Autumn Cousatte hit a double into the left center field gap and Ruckman scored from first to tie it at 2-2. The throw home was late, but Baylie Busby threw Cousatte out trying for third on the throw home.
In the Tiger fifth, Worth County threatened to break the game open after Kynah Steele opened the inning with a monster 250 foot shot that broke the tie. Hailey Adwell singled to left. Kara Staton flied out, but consecutive Bluejay errors scored another run and put runners on first and third. Brylee Rush stole second. Bluejay catcher Baylie Busby made a great catch against the fence on the third base side for the second out, but Rylee Ruckman beat out a slow roller down the first base line and two runs scored on the play to make it 6-2. It might have been worse as Autumn Cousatte hit a tricky pop fly that four Bluejays had a chance at. But center fielder Ruby Wilmes came racing in from center to grab it for the third out.
Northeast Nodaway was on the ropes as Brooklyn Richardson had a no-hitter going into the sixth, but Baylie Busby singled to left to break it up and went to second as the cutoff throw got away. The hope for the Bluejays was that Worth County has had trouble protecting big leads, and this was the case this time. Hadley DeFreece singled, but Tiger center fielder Hailey Adwell gunned down Busby at home for the first out as DeFreece took second. Northeast got a run out of the inning as Meredith Adwell's grounder was under Lanie Cousatte's legs into right and Hadley scored as Rylee Ruckman's throw was off line. Jill Boswell's pop fly down the right field line dropped in for a base hit, but every time the Tigers got in trouble, Brooklyn Richardson was able to make good pitches to get out of it. This time, she struck out Jaden Atkins and Makenzie Pride back to back to get out with the Tigers still up 6-3.
Worth County got a badly needed insurance run in the sixth when Kynah Steele doubled to the wall in right center with one out. Hailey Adwell beat out Lindsey Jackson's throw as Steele took third. Steele scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-3.
The bottom of the order was up for Northeast, but Lauren McIntyre spoiled a change from Brooklyn Richardson and singled it into left for a hit. Lindsey Jackson laid down a bunt and Worth County threw it away, putting runners on second and third. Mylee Wilmes laid down a perfect bunt single past the mound as McIntyre scored and Jackson held at second. Baylie Busby singled, and it looked like trouble as her shot hit the divot between the dirt and the grass and bounced high in the air. But right fielder Rylee Ruckman grabbed it and gunned down Jackson at the plate as Wilmes took third. Hadley DeFreece grounded to Richardson, who gunned down Wilmes at the plate for the second out. Meredith Adwell singled to right to score Busby and put DeFreece on third. Jill Boswell held on a check swing and walked to load the bases, but once again, Brooklyn Richardson reached back and made some good pitches when she had to, overpowering Jaden Atkins and striking her out to end the game.
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