The Eureka Lady Tornadoes took City Diamond by storm on Monday, March 31 for their first games of the season. For the varsity doubleheader, the Lady Tornadoes claimed a 7-5 victory in game one before falling 6-12 in the second game.
In game one, Southern Lyon County (SLC) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with two singles and three runners crossing home plate. In the bottom of the first, Lady Tornado senior Trinity Samuels was able to make it around the bases, getting Eureka on the board with 1 run. Eureka was able to tie the game at 3 in the second inning after freshmen Arabella Shepherd and Lylly Stapleford scored for the Lady Tornadoes.
Both teams went scoreless in the next two innings before adding two runs each in the fifth. As the Tornadoes trailed, 3-5, to start the bottom of the fifth inning, Samuels and Keira Crisswell each singled to get the team going. Both would later score, but the Tornadoes were unable to capitalize and the teams were tied at 5 going into the sixth inning.
Eureka quickly snagged two outs to start the sixth before SLC advanced on a walk and was able to get another on base due to a Tornado error. However, Eureka’s third baseman, Laynie Winfrey, was able to connect with first baseman Elle Coulter to claim the third out. Eureka started the bottom of the inning with two quick outs before Crisswell was walked and stole second to change the tide for Eureka. Madelyn Miller was also walked. Winfrey was able to drive them in with a single before the inning concluded with the Tornadoes taking a 7-5 lead. The Tornadoes saw five batters in the top of seventh but were able to claim the three outs before SLC could make a comeback.
Lady Tornado Raylee Boles started in the circle for Eureka. She surrendered six hits and five runs (three earned) over seven innings, striking out three and walking six.
Winfrey provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led the Tornadoes with three runs batted in. The cleanup hitter went 1-for-3 on the day. Samuels, Crisswell, Cheyenne Gardner and Winfrey each collected one hit for the Tornadoes. Eureka had a strong eye at the plate, piling up 10 walks for the game. Miller, Crisswell and Shepherd led the team with two bases on balls each, while Crisswell led the team with four bases stolen.
Game Two
The Lady Tornadoes fell behind early in game two as SLC claimed a 3-1 lead in the first.
Both teams added two runs in the second before the Tornadoes were able to claim a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the third. Eureka’s Miller and Winfrey singled with Elaina Osborne (courtesy runner), Winfrey and Coulter all scoring before the end of the inning.
SLC quickly added four in the fourth. They scored three runs on an error and the final score came from a triple that scored one. SLC would add a single run in the next three innings, with the Tornadoes unable to get anything going in the final innings of the game. Eureka lost the game 6-12.
Boles started in the circle and allowed nine hits and 11 runs (four earned) over five innings, striking out one and walking five.
Samuels and Boles each collected two hits for Eureka, with Miller, Gardner, Boles, Coulter and Shepherd each driving in one run. Eureka stole four bases during the game. The Tornado defense turned one double play during the matchup.
Up Next
Eureka is slated to travel to Flinthills on Thursday, April 10 for varsity and junior varsity games. Games are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. The Lady Tornadoes will return to Eureka on Tuesday, April 15, against Humboldt.
