By Justin Nails, Trussville Tribune Sports
MONTGOMERY –The Tigers bounced back after their first tournament loss, taking down Mortimer Jordan 4-3.
Springville struck first with two outs as Annie Nolan doubled, scoring Kaylee Chapman and Dakota Dorsett, who had walked and grounded into a fielder’s choice respectively. Makaylyn Kyser ended the inning on a strikeout, stranding one runner.
Morgan Maze lead off for Mortimer Jordan singling to left. Abby Swaney struck out Danilyn Moore to give Springville two outs before Swaney hit Anna Purvis to put base runners on first and second. Ansley Grimes then reaches on an error, loading the bases for Mia Townsend, who made the defense pay as she tripled on a line drive to center scoring all three runners and taking a 3-1 lead.
Springville couldn’t get anything going in the top of the 2nd as they go three up and three down. Maze recorded two strikeouts to secure the lead for Mortimer Jordan. In the bottom half of the 2nd, Mortimer Jordan reached on an error by second baseman McKenzie Brown and a walk by Swaney but Moore lined out to end the inning.
Brown made up for the fielding error in the top of the third with a hard hit single to centerfield but with one out already on the books, Chapman lined out to second baseman Savannah Chaviers who quickly turned the play into a double play firing the third out to first and ending the inning.
Swaney made quick work of the third inning for Springville as she struck out Purvis, gets Grimes to line out to short, and strikes out Townsend to end the inning.
The Tigers threatened in the top of the fourth as Nolan doubled on a line drive to right field. With one out, Kyser singled but Nolan was caught trying to advance to third and was thrown out for the second out of the inning. Spivey then grounded out to end the inning.
Swaney went back to work in the bottom of the 4th, tallying two more strikeouts to make quick work of the Blue Devils in the bottom half of the inning.
The Tigers were gifted a walk as LeVan reached on four straight pitches. LeVan then advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt by Nolan and a ground out by Long. With two outs, Brown singled on a line drive to center scoring LeVan and pulling the Tigers within one, 3-2.
Chapman then singled to left advancing Brown to second. Dorsett provided the tying hit as she doubled on a hard ground ball, scoring Brown and advancing Chapman to third. Nolan ended the fifth inning rally on a fly out to right field but not before the Tigers were able to tie the game at three all.
In the bottom of the fifth, Swaney adds another strikeout and gets Moore and Purvis to fly out and quickly ends the inning with the two teams still tied at 3-3.
Maddie Maze starts out the top of the 6th with a strikeout but then gave up a single to Spivey. A passed ball allowed Spivey to advance to second before LeVan laid down a bunt to advance Spivey over to third with two outs. E Robinson substituted in as a pinch hitter for Nolan and popped out on a foul tip but not before Spivey scored on a wild pitch giving Springville the 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth.
Spivey walked Grimes to begin the bottom of the sixth. The Blue Devils weren’t able to capitalize as Townsend struck out swinging, 18 lined out, and Stone flied out to end the inning.
The Blue Devils made short work of the top of the seventh as Morgan Maze struck out Long to get things started. Brown singled to left giving the Tigers a runner on first but it was short lived as Chapman lined into a double play ending the inning.
Swaney added her 8th strikeout of the day to record the first out of the bottom of the 7th. A walk issued by Swaney put the tying run on first but the Tigers defense came up big ending the game on a double play line drive to Chapman who quickly fired the third out to first baseman Dorsett for the win.
McKenzie Brown lead all Springville batter going 4-for-4 and an RBI while Swaney records eight strikeouts, three walks, zero earned runs, and just three hits in the complete game win.
Mia Townsend lead all Mortimer Jordan hitters going 1-for-3 with three RBI’s.
In a rematch of Game 1, Springville will play Alexandria Thursday morning with a 10:45 a.m. first pitch.