Big inning leads Patriots past Bears

Haley Fisher followed with a two-run home run to make it 6-3 before the Patriots loaded the bases on a walk to Ali Gardner and back-to-back singles to Liz Gogel and Jenna McDowell. Mayci Litherland’s RBI singled scored Gardner and Gogel to give Heritage Hills a five-run lead.

Central cut into the Patriots’ cushion in the fourth when Danika Dix reached on a two-out error and scored on Hailee Vallee’s RBI double but couldn’t get any closer.

Day’s RBI single in the first gave the Patriots an early 1-0 edge before the Bears answered in the bottom half with a Vallee sacrifice fly that scored Ava Reed, who doubled leading off the inning.

In the second, Gordon led off by reaching after getting hit by a pitch and she advanced to second on Fisher’s single. After a fielder’s choice, Gogel’s RBI ground out gave Heritage Hills the lead back at 2-1 before two errors in the bottom half allowed Central to briefly retake the advantage at 3-2.

Kiegel earned the victory in the circle for the Patriots after she pitched five innings and gave up four runs—one earned—on five hits and four walks. She also struck out five batters. Grace Keller pitched the sixth and seventh and allowed two hits with a walk and strikeout.

Kylin Schoenhals took the loss for the Bears, pitching all seven innings and surrendering eight earned runs on 11 hits and three walks. She did strike out one batter.

Offensively, Litherland finished 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs for the Patriots and Day went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Fisher was 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs while Gordon finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two driven in.

For Central, Schoenhals went 2-for-4 and Vallee finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

The Patriots went on to fall to Daviess County (Ky.) last Wednesday 16-8 before demolishing Perry Central 26-5 on Thursday. Heritage Hills stands at 13-6 on the season and the Patriots were scheduled to host Castle and play at Forest Park on Monday and Tuesday before hosting county rival South Spencer Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

HERITAGE HILLS 8, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 4

Heritage Hills 1-1-6-0-0-0-0—8-11-4

Evansville Central 1-2-0-1-0-0-0—4-7-2

WP: Kiegel, HH. LP: Schoenhals, C.

2B-Gordon, HH; Reed and Vallee, C. HR-Fisher, HH.

DAVIESS COUNTY (Ky.) 16, HERITAGE HILLS 8

Daviess County 1-1-0-6-5-0-3—16-12-3

Heritage Hills 1-1-2-0-4-0-0—8-12-4

WP: Timmons, DC. LP: Kiegel, HH.

2B-S. Day, HH; Morris, Newman and Beckwith, DC. 3B-Gordon, HH. HR-Daniels and Hamlton, DC.

HERITAGE HILLS 26, PERRY CENTRAL 5

Perry Central 2-0-0-2-1-x-x—5-3-10

Heritage Hills 19-6-0-1-x-x-x—26-22-3

WP: Gordon, HH. LP: Labhart, PC.

2B-Schipp, S. Day and Gardner, HH. HR-S. Day and Gordon, HH.