Fifth inning turns out 'sweet' for the Lady Miners at the plate

By B.J. Hargis Lady Miner senior Izzy Carpenter scored one run in a win over Wheele Friday at the state softballl semifinals in Class 2A. She is shown taking a pitch. [Order this photo]

But three straight singles by the Lady Miners in the top of the fifth inning capped off a five-run inning which sent them into the Class 2A state championship game Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Miners prevailed, 5-2.

By B.J. Hargis Jenica Ringo gets in position to make a snag in the infield during Friday night's semi-final game against Wheeler. [Order this photo]

Miner back-stop Hali Murray started the two-out rally with a bloop single over the leaping outstretched arms of Lady Bearcat shortstop Marcy Medina to plate the first two runs.

Jenica Ringo followed with a two-run single past a diving second basemen before Katie West wrapped up the inning by dumping a single in front of the centerfielder to plate Ringo for the final tally of the inning.

When all was said and done the Lady Miners sent nine batters to the plate in the inning, with five hits and received one walk.

Indianapolis Roncali transfer, Darien Huffman started the rally by painting the rightfield line for a single with one out.

More impressive about the five-run rally with two outs, was that the Bearcats pitcher, Lanay Parks entered the game having given up just one earned run in 130 innings of work. In fact through their prior 29 games the Bearcats had only allowed 16 runs total.

The outburst proved to be more than enough for Lady Miners ace, Stephanie Fougerousse, who had only allowed three earned runs in 116 innings inside the circle.

The Lady Bearcats would push two runs across in the bottom half of the fifth inning, as they were finally able to record their first two hits of the game off of Fougerousse.

Hopes of a comeback for the Lady Bearcats would quickly be dashed away as Fougerousse recorded the final six outs without a threat. The only other runner Wheeler could muster was a dropped third strike with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.