Claxon strikes out 10 in CG win

With momentum on their side and coming home from a successful week in Florida, Georgetown looked to keep things going in a doubleheader against Midway on Tuesday. Sarah Claxon took the mound in the opener and turned in another strong performance. Claxon threw her 6th complete game and struck out 10 as the Tigers won, 5-2.

The top of the 1st was a breeze for the Tigers' ace. Claxon struck out the leadoff batter induced a foul out and a weak grounder to set her tone from the get go. She would get help from the offense in the bottom of the 1st. Kaylyn Barnett started off her big day with a leadoff double to right center. Barnett was sacrificed to 3rd by Stevie Shepherd. 2 batters later, Claxon drew a 4-pitch walk. She would head towards 2nd on the next pitch, trying to induce a throw to get Barnett home. Midway took the chance and Barnett was initally tagged out at home. The play was immediately discussed, and it was determined that Barnett's path to the plate was entirely blocked. The run counted and Claxon stayed at 2nd. After a Cassie Rannells single and stolen base, Peyton Beger laced a double to the right center gap, scoring Claxon and Rannells, giving Georgetown a quick 3-0 lead.

In the 2nd, Claxon walked the leadoff batter, but made up for that with 3 straight strikeouts to negate any threat. Barnett doubled in the bottom of the 2nd and stole third but would be stranded there. Each team would single in the 3rd, but nothing would come from it, setting up fireworks in the 4th.

Midway got aggressive early in the count against Claxon and started the 4th with a single and double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with no out. It would be followed with a single to right, scoring both runners and cutting Claxon's lead to 3-2. She would rebound with a fly out and strike out to retire the side and keep Georgetown in front. Ashley Shelton started the Tiger 4th with a single. 2 batters later, Barnett stepped up and smoked a ball to right center, ending with a triple and scoring Shelton to put Georgetown ahead, 4-2. Stevie Shepherd followed with an infield single, making it 5-2, getting the 2 runs back.

Claxon did the rest. Over the final 3 innings, Midway mustered just 1 hit and struck out 4 times, including 2 in the 7th to seal the Tigers 4th straight win. It sealed Sarah Claxon's 7th win of the year as she allowed just 5 hits and the 2 runs with the 10 punchouts. She faced just 6 batters over the minimum. Kaylyn Barnett scored twice while going 3-for-3 with 2 doubles and a triple. 6 of the top 7 Tigers in the order recorded at least 1 hit.