History was made Monday night at Aurora High School when the McDonald County High School Lady Mustang softball team rallied for a 5-3 win over the Lady Houns.
The rally itself wasn't what made history. The history made was that the win was the first for McDonald County as a member of the Big 8 Conference.
"It was a big win for us," said coach Tray Shaddox. "We wanted to get our first conference win and are happy about it. But we never played as well as I thought we should have. The girls did find a way to win after digging a hole."
Aurora jumped to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs on four hits and three McDonald County errors.
McDonald County chipped away at the lead by scoring two runs in the third. Coley Ickes doubled and scored on a double by Hanna Schmit. Kyla Buchanan added an RBI single to cut the score to 3-2.
In the fourth, McDonald County added a pair of runs to take the lead. Courtnie Welch started the rally with a single. Chayleigh McCool doubled her home to tie the game. Ashlie Westgate singled, Ickes walked and Cloee Helm grounded out to drive in the go-ahead run.
McDonald County added an insurance run with two-outs in the top of the seventh. Buchanan singled and scored on a double by Chloe Anderson.
Cheyanne Chappie went the distance to pick up the win for the Lady Mustangs. Chappie allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits. She walked none and struck out five.
"After the first inning, Cheyanne settled down and pitched well," Shaddox said.
The win gives McDonald County an overall record of 7-2 heading into tonight's game when the Lady Mustangs host Seneca. Game time is 5 p.m.
Nixa
McDonald County scored three runs in the third inning and Chappie pitched a seven hit shutout as the Lady Mustangs handed Nixa a 4-0 loss Sept. 5 at MCHS.
Ickes started the Lady Mustang third inning rally with a two-out single. The senior speedster then stole second and scored an a single by Helm. Schmit singled, Rachel Brown reached on an error before Buchanan drove in the final run of the inning with a single.
Ickes and Helm each finished with two hits to lead the Lady Mustangs.
Sports on 09/11/2014