Heritage Christian Academy moved into second place in the District 8 softball standings with a 16-13 win over host University Heights Academy on Thursday afternoon.
Presley Brewer led the Lady Warriors, who improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in district play, going 2-for-6 on the day. Ava DeJager and Madison Warren each had a double.
For UHA, which slipped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the district, Brooke Hancock went 4-for-5, including a triple, and drove in five runs to lead the way.
Katherine Wood, Emily Dilday and Gracie Ausenbaugh each had three hits for the Lady Blazers. Ausenbaugh also drove in three runs.
Heritage jumped out to a 6-0 lead, thanks in part to a five-run top of the second inning. A UHA error resulted in four runs crossing the plate. Presley Brewer added a run-scoring single.
UHA rallied with five runs in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 6-5. The Lady Blazers had four hits including Hancock’s triple.
After the Lady Warriors added two more runs in the top of the fourth to push their lead to 8-5, UHA tied the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the frame on a hit by Ausenbaugh.
Both teams scored three runs in the fifth and they entered the seventh inning tied at 11-11.
HCA scored five times in the top of the seventh. Hadley Hayes had a two-run single in the frame.
The Lady Blazers tried to battle back in the bottom of the seventh, adding a pair of runs, but it wasn’t enough.
Warren picked up the pitching win for HCA while Dilday suffered the pitching loss for UHA.
The Lady Warriors return to action April 7 at home against Dawson Springs. The Lady Blazers are scheduled to play at Caldwell County on April 7.
Score by Innings:
Heritage Christian 051 230 5 – 16 6 7
University Heights 005 330 2 – 13 15 1
WP- Warren
LP – Dilday
Leading Hitters: HCA – Hayes (1B), Groves (1B), Warren (2B), Brewer (2 1B), DeJager (2B); UHA – Wood (3 1B), Dilday (3 1B), Williams (1B), Hancock (3B, 3 1B, 5 RBI), Torpey (1B), Ausenbaugh (3 1B, 3 RBI, 4 SB).
Photos by Joe Wilson