CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman Bearcats were back home to open area play against Mortimer Jordan Tuesday night and seven innings weren’t enough to decide things in this one. Trailing 6-4 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Samantha Johnson’s 2-run home run tied things up at 6 and sent the game into extra innings. With a pair of runners on base and two outs on the board in the bottom of the eighth, Abby Maples punched a walk-off single into right field to seal a 7-6, come from behind area win for Cullman.
A 2-run home run put Mortimer Jordan in front 2-0 in the top of the first, but the Bearcats responded in the bottom half of the inning. Abby Maples and Samantha Johnson drew walks to put a pair of runners on base and Summer Storey lined a single into left field to plate Maples and cut the lead to 2-1. A few pitches later, Dracen Bates knocked a double into left field to bring Johnson home to score and tie the game at 2 going into the second inning.
After a scoreless second, the Blue Devils took advantage of an error in third to move back in front 3-2. Mortimer Jordan led off the top of the fourth with back to back doubles to extend the lead to 4-2 and tacked on another run in the fifth to make it a 5-2 game.
The ‘Cats were held hitless for three straight innings but were able to cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Presley Burden and Maples led off the inning with back to back singles and Hattie Graham lifted a sacrifice fly into deep center field to bring Burden home on a sacrifice fly and trim the lead to 5-3 headed to the sixth.
Mortimer Jordan got the run back in the top of the sixth, scoring on a pair of singles to pull ahead 6-3 but Cullman wasn’t done chipping away. In the bottom of the sixth, Bates blasted a solo home run over the left field fence to make it a 6-4 game going into the final frame. The Bearcats kept the Blue Devils off the board in the top of the seventh and down to their final out in the bottom half of the inning, Graham reached first on an error to keep Cullman’s chances alive. Three pitches later, Johnson drove a 2-run bomb over the left field fence to tie things up at 6 and send the game to extra innings.
Mortimer Jordan was held scoreless once again in the top of the eighth and the Bearcats were finally able to pull ahead for good in the home half of the inning. With two outs on the board once again, Haylee Little drew a walk and Burden reached base on an error to put the winning run in scoring position. That’s when Maples shot a walk-off line drive into right field to plate Little and complete the comeback for the ‘Cats.
Bates and Johnson each finished with two hits and two RBIs in the win. Maples added a pair of hits and an RBI and Burden and Storey (one RBI) each posted hits as well.
Storey went six innings in the circle, allowing three earned runs on six hits and striking out one batter. Sydney Hill tossed the final two innings in relief, allowing a pair of earned runs on four hits and collecting a strikeout of her own.
Cullman will continue area play on Thursday with a road game against Jasper.
Copyright 2025 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
