NEW MARKET – Each lineup started with strikeouts off the bat
which set the tone for the South/Danville conference game Tuesday. However, the
Danville softball team was able to liven up their bats in the third inning and
pulled away from South with a 2-1 win.
Mountie Paige Knowling faced off with Warrior Emma Dwyer in
the conference pitching duel. Knowling struck out 6-of-9 in their first round
of the lineup. On the flipside, Dwyer struck out 8-of-9 in South’s first plate
appearances.
“We are not going to win if we don’t hit,” Mountie coach
Jennifer Watson said. However, the Mounties created a few chances. After two
Warrior errors, Paige Knowling crossed the plate while Kaiti Chadd ended on
third. Two outs and runners in scoring position, but the Mounties could not
pull her across.
“We were set up for a good scenario to tie it, if not win
it,” Watson said. “But, the season is early and if we learn from it that is all
I ask.”
Danville’s string of three hits in the middle of their
lineup was just enough to put their two across in the third inning. The two
singles and a triple helped the Warriors to their first conference win.
“There’s not really a doubt in my mind that they are going
to take this game and learn from it,” Watson said. “Tomorrow we’re hopefully not
going to have a reenactment of today and we will hit the ball.”
Junior Dwyer gave up three hits to the Mounties (0-1, 0-1
SAC) and no earned runs with 16 strikeouts.
“She’s going to be one of the better pitchers we see, so if
we get her rhyme down and get in a rhythm we can come back tomorrow and do the
opposite of what we did today. That’s our goal.”
Knowling struck out 12 giving up five hits.
“A positive from tonight is Paige Knowling did awesome,”
Watson added.
The team faces Danville again tonight at 5:30 p.m. on the Warriors' home turf.