Tiger bats power series win

After a tough opener on Sunday, the Georgetown bats came roaring back to life in an 8-2 win over UT-Southern to claim a series win in the conference opener.

Sarah Claxon took the mound once more for the Tigers and quickly worked a 1-2-3 top of the 1st. She helped her own cause in the bottom of the inning, by singling Kaylyn Barnett home after Barnett and Stevie Shepherd each walked.

In the bottom of the 2nd, the Tigers kept the bats working. Cassie Rannells led off with an infield single. After a Peyton Beger sacrifice, Brooke Chick drew a walk to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Maria Fratangelo then stepped in and launched a 3-run homer over the wall in left center, giving the Tigers a 4-0 lead, and sending the Firehawks to their bullpen.

The Tigers took that lead to the bottom of the 4th looking for more help for Claxon on the mound. They didn't wait long. Fratangelo and Barnett led off the inning with walks. Shepherd then singled to right to load the bases for Mallory Myers. Myers laced a ball to the wall, clearing the bases and making the score 7-0, Tigers.

UT-Southern would break through in the top of the 5th with 2 runs off Claxon to keep the game within reach at 7-2, but would draw no closer. Georgetown would get 1 run back in the bottom of the 6th. Haylee Stansbury doubled to left center to begin the threat. Destiny Wallace came in to run for Stansbury, and the move paid off after a Cassie Rannells single to right. Wallace scored to bring the game to its 8-2 eventual final score.

Sarah Claxon would finish off a brilliant weekend with a 1-2-3 7th inning, giving her a 2nd win in the series. She went all 7 innings again, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, while striking out 4, on just 82 pitches. She improved to 3-1 on the year and lowered her ERA to 2.67.

The Tigers step out of the MSC on Tuesday, taking on IU-Southeast in a doubleheader starting at 2:00pm at the softball complex.