Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Alli Burke Triples, Drives in Three as Hawks Survive Scare

Gilman City’s softball team survived a scare from Mercer as Alli Burke tripled and drove in three, overcoming nine errors and traffic on the basepaths all night as the Hawks broke open the conference game late for a 7-3 win Tuesday, September 8th.

With one out in the top of the first, Hailey McClure reached first on an error, took second on defensive indifference, and Alli Burke grounded out to move her to third. Avery Chadwick reached first on an error to score her to put Gilman City up 1-0. The score was stuck there until Mercer, cooping with Ridgeway and Cainsville this year, tied the game in the third when Zoe Fisher grounded out to score Avarie Thompson.

Once again, it was Hailey McClure who sparked the Hawks. In the fourth, she singled to center, and the cutoff throw got away, allowing her to go all the way to third. Alli Burke singled to right to break the tie. Hawk pitcher Tenley Griffith picked off Jalyn Cain at second in the Cardinal fourth, but Lily Stark later scored on a passed ball to tie it 2-2.

Emmery Smith lined to left for a single to start the Hawk fifth. Caitlynn Chalfant grounded out to advance her to second. Tenley Griffith doubled to score her to break the tie to make it 3-2.

Gilman City finally broke open the game in the seventh when the bottom of the order came through. Caitlynn Chalfant got an infield single, and Parker Crabtree beat out a bunt. Tenley Griffith walked to load the bases. Mercer nearly got out of the inning as Hailey McClure struck out, and Caitlynn Chalfant was picked off third. But Alli Burke tripled to right to score two and circled the bases when the ball got away to make it 6-2. Avery Chadwick singled to center. Nova Smith singled to right to put Chadwick on third. Kayleece Puls reached first on an error to score Chadwick to make it 7-2.

But the Hawks made things interesting in the Cardinal seventh, with three errors leading to a run before Tenley Griffith finally got a groundout to close the door.

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