Lady Pointers nip Panthers

Published 11:52 pm Saturday, April 24, 2010

SOUTH POINT — A must win situation puts a lot of pressure on a team, unless you’re the South Point Lady Pointers.

Faced with a do-or-die situation, Rachel Murnahan pitched the Lady Pointers to a 1-0 win over the Chesapeake Lady Pointers Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

South Point (8-6, 4-3) needed a win to stay alive in the league race. The loss was the first for Chesapeake.

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“I told the girls before the game that they had nothing to lose and to have fun and stay loose. I think our team is really starting to handle pressure well,” said Lady Pointers’ coach Tara Layne.

Murnahan gave up only three hits, struck out nine and walked two as she outdueled Chesapeake’s Allison Chapman who gave up four hits, stuck out seven and did not walk anyone.

“Rachel has been pitching well and our bats have started to come alive at the perfect time,” said Layne. “Our defense was rock solid tonight and made some great plays including the huge double play in the first inning.”

South Point scored the game’s only run in the first inning.

Emilee Button tripled with one out to deep centerfield. Katelynn Leonard followed with a base hit to score Button.

“It felt great to get that first run on the board quick,” said Layne.

“Katelynn was 1-2 in the count and made solid contact and got a great base hit for us. Emilee did an awesome job at waiting for a pitch that she could handle and she just drove the ball had tonight.”

Button was 2-3 and also had a double.

Chesapeake had threatened in the top of the first inning.

Chapman opened the game with a double and Casey Kirk walked with no outs. But Murnahan got a short fly out to center and then the Lady Poitners turned a double play to end the rally.

Chesapeake 000 000 0 = 0 3 1

South Point 100 000 x = 1 4 0

Allison Chapman and Courtney Heffner. Rachel Murnahan and Katelynn Leonard. W-Murnahan (9-K, 2-BB). L-Chapman (7-K, 0-BB). 2B-Chesapeake: Allison Chapman; SP: Emilee Button. 3B-SP: Emilee Button. Hitting-Chesapeake: Allison Chapman 2-3, Sara Rice 1-2; South Point: Emily Button 2-3, Katelynn Leonard 1-3, Ashley Smith 1-2.