Eufaula senior Kate Pippenger drove in seven runs on three hits to lead the Lady Ironheads past the Warner Lady Eagles 15-8 on Monday.
“I was proud of Kate. She showed our opponents that she could hit the ball or play defense. Overall, the whole team played well for being early in the season. They did a great job hitting the ball and limited mistakes,” Eufaula head coach Ryan Green said.
Pippenger singled in the fourth scoring two, doubled in the sixth scoring two and singled in the first scoring one.
Eufaula jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning after Rayleigh Peterson tripled, scoring one run, Pippenger singled, scoring one run and Raci Summerlin doubled, scoring two runs. Eufaula added to their early lead in the top of the second inning after Peterson tripled to center field, and Pippenger lined out, each scoring one run.
Warner would battle back as they took the lead, 8-6, in the bottom of the second thanks to a grand slam home run by Ella Labounty, and a home run by Emercyn Baldridge.
Pippenger continued to be hot at the plate as she singled down the left field line, which helped Eufaula tie the game at eight in the top of the fourth.
In the top of the sixth, the Lady Ironheads broke up the tie when Pippenger doubled, scoring two runs. Then a tag up by Pippenger followed to extend the lead to 11-8.
Makayla Harjo earned the win for Eufaula. The righty surrendered 11 hits and eight runs over seven innings, striking out two and walking four. Crow took the loss for the Lady Eagles. The pitcher went seven innings, giving up 15 runs (13 earned) on 21 hits, striking out one and walking eight.
Eufaula piled up 21 hits in the game. Rayleigh Peterson led Eufaula with five hits in five at bats. Kadie Jo Tidwell, Hannah Beaver, Abby Box, and Raci Summerlin each collected multiple hits for the Lady Ironheads. Eufaula had great effort at the plate, collecting eight walks for the game. Kadie Jo Tidwell, Makayla Harjo, and Leah Green led the team with two bases on balls each. Eufaula didn’t commit a single error in the field. Leah Green had the most chances in the field with seven.
The Lady Eagles collected 11 hits in the game. Ella Labounty went 1-for-4 at the plate and led the team with four runs batted in. Emercyn Baldridge led the Lady Eagles with three hits in four at bats. Aubri Franco and Tallon Ashmore each collected multiple hits for Lady Eagles.
On Tuesday, Eufaula defeated Class 5A foe Tahlequah Lady Tigers 16-4. Freshman Leah Green hit a home run to center field in the second inning, scoring three runs and doubled in the third inning, scoring two. Eufaula rallied for the victory despite trailing 4-0 in the first.
The Lady Ironheads scored seven runs on eight hits to take the lead, 9-4. The biggest blow in the inning was a home run to center field by Leah Green that drove in three. Makayla Harjo earned the win for Eufaula. The starter surrendered five hits and four runs over three innings, striking out one and walking seven. Cadence Kirk took the loss for Tahlequah (5A). The pitcher went two and one-third innings, giving up 16 runs on 20 hits, striking out none and walking none.
The Lady Ironheads amassed 20 hits in the game. Kate Pippenger and Leah Green each collected three hits for Eufaula Lady Ironheads Slowpitch. Hannah Beaver, Briley Gragg, Abby Box, Makayla Harjo, Rayleigh Peterson, and Jadence Efurd each collected multiple hits for Eufaula.
Week Round-Up
On Wednesday, Eufaula lost to Panama 11-1 and Pocola 14-1.
On Thursday Eufaula fell to Howe 14-5 but bounced back with a 13-0 shutout victory over Oktaha.
