White County Middle School found itself on the wrong side of a tightly played, low-scoring game Wednesday night, falling 2-1 to DeKalb County. The Warriorettes were limited to just one hit and one run, while the Lady Saints did just enough to move on and earn a day off. White County, meanwhile, drops into the losers bracket and will need a win to keep its season alive.
The tone was set early. DeKalb County scratched across a run in the top of the first, taking advantage of an error before stringing together three singles to load the bases. Despite the early pressure, the Warriorettes limited the damage to just one run.
White County answered in the bottom half of the inning with its only offensive push of the night. Bianca Villano drew a leadoff walk, and Addison Finley followed with a double — the Warriorettes’ lone hit — to put two runners in scoring position. Paizlee Taylor drove in the tying run with a ground ball to second, allowing Villano to score and even the game at 1-1.
Both teams went quietly in the second, and DeKalb County broke the tie in the third. An error, a single, and a walk loaded the bases before a passed ball allowed the go-ahead run to come home — a run that ultimately stood as the difference.
From there, neither offense could generate anything. No baserunners reached over the final two and a half innings as both sides settled into a rhythm.
Taylor went the distance in the circle for White County, allowing two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out three.
The Warriorettes now turn their attention to a win-or-go-home matchup Thursday night at 7 p.m., where they will face the winner of Game 10. A victory would send them to the district championship round, where they would need to defeat DeKalb County twice to claim the title.
WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE:
HITS: Addison Finley
RUNS: Bianca Villano
RBI: Paizlee Taylor 1
2B: Addison Finley
TB: Addison Finley 2
SB: Bianca Villano
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