Big fifth inning propels Zionsville softball
Mar. 26—The Zionsville softball team lost some momentum in the top of the fifth inning on Tuesday evening against Mount Vernon.
The visiting Marauders scored to tie the game at two, and then loaded the bases with two outs against reliever Kristin Evers.
But Evers got a strike out to get out of the jam, and that was the turning of the tide the Eagles needed.
Zionsville went on to scored seven times in the bottom of the fifth, and improved to 3-0 with an 11-5 victory.
The Eagles led 1-0 and 2-1, scoring on wild pitches in the second and fourth innings.
Mount Vernon tied the game in the fifth, but Tess Bradford ad Leah Helton walked and singled to start the inning, putting pressure on the Marauders defense.
Abbie Geib hit a 2-run double on a 3-2 pitch to give the Eagles the lead, and Charli Westerfield followed with a run-scoring single to make it 5-2.
An RBI-single from Sylvia Mudis, another run-scoring wild pitch, and a 2-run double from Helton added four more runs to give the Eagles a comfortable lead.
Zionsville sent 12 to the plate in the inning, including six with two outs.
Maddie Benedict and Mudis added RBIs in the sixth to cap the scoring for the Eagles.
Helton, Geib and Westerfield all had two hits in the game. Helton, Geib and Mudis each had two RBIs and Westrfield and Emma Vargo each scored two runs.
Helton started and didn't allow a hit in four innings, striking out eight and giving up one run. Evers pitched the final three innings, striking out five.
The Eagles are 3-0 for the second straight year, and travel to Center Grove on Wednesday, looking to go 4-0 for the first time in at least a decade.
Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Willems.
