CULLMAN – It was a cold one Thursday afternoon as the Cullman Lady Bearcats hosted the James Clemens Lady Jets. Offense was hard to come by for both sides, but Cullman scored two in the first and added one more in the third, which was more than enough for Olivia Schwaiger, who went the distance in the Lady ‘Cats’ 3-2 win.
Cullman struck first in the opening inning. Bailey Swann reached on a one-out infield single, then McKensi Burks walked on four straight pitches. Hannah Morton reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on first and second with two outs. Burks and Morton advanced to third and second, respectively, on a wild pitch. Tiffani Schwaiger hit a fly ball to center fielder Mary Kate West, but she dropped the ball and Schwaiger moved up to second as both runners came to score to give the Lady Bearcats a 2-0 lead after one.
The Lady Jets looked to counter in the top of the second. Jordan McMeans and Sarah Simon got hit by the pitch back-to-back with one out for James Clemens. But a fielder's choice and a ground out forced by Olivia Schwaiger got her out of the inning without any damage.
Cullman added an insurance run in the bottom of the third. Swann led off the inning with a walk, then Burks lined a single into left field, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Burks then stole second, but got doubled off second on a fly out by Morton. Tiffani Schwaiger lined a RBI single into left field, scoring Swann, to give Cullman a 3-0 lead after three.
The Lady Jets put two more runners on in the fourth, looking to get on the scoreboard, but again, Olivia Schwaiger was able to get out of the inning unscathed.
James Clemens finally got their first hit of the game in the top of the fifth inning on a bunt single by West. Another bunt single by Shelby Booker put the Lady Jets in business with no outs. Holly Sharp hit a one-out two-run double to right center-field to drive home West and Booker to cut the Cullman lead to 3-2, then Eve Mallard lined the ball up the middle, but a nice relay throw by Kennedy Wren nailed the courtesy runner, who replaced Sharp at second, at the plate, to keep it at a 3-2 game.
Olivia Schwaiger gave up just one hit over the final two innings, including retiring the Lady Jets in order on just eight pitches in the final inning, to help clinch the win for Cullman, who improves to 2-3 on the season. They will participate in the Spain Park Jaguar Classic tomorrow, where their first opponent will be Northridge.
Olivia Schwaiger went the distance, allowing two runs on four hits, walking two, striking out four and hitting three. Swann and Burks each went 1-of-2 with a walk. Tiffani Schwaiger went 2-of-3 with an RBI and two singles.
"Those two runs in the first were more than enough for us," Cullman head coach Stephanie Conner said. "But our offense went stagnant after that because their pitcher mixed up her pitches a lot out there. We will get some extra swings at practice. Olivia Schwaiger struggled a little bit out there, but she finished strong. That's really typical of her. This was a big win for us. I wish my dad was here to watch the girls play, but he's in heaven now, watching them from there. I want them to have fun; that's all I want to see out of them."
Madisyn McKeon also went the distance for James Clemens, as she allowed three runs, only one of them earned, on four hits, walked two and struck out one. Sharp went 1-of-3 with an RBI single. West and Simon each had a hit for the Lady Jets, who fall to 6-3 on the season. They will head home to play Hartselle next Monday.
Image: Courtesy of Cullman High School on Twitter
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