Late rally comes up short for East Prairie at Advance

ADVANCE, Mo. — The East Prairie softball team could not climb out of an early hole and fell at Advance on Thursday, March 30.

The Lady Hornets (4-1) used a strong performance on the mound from Brogan Hawkins, who earned a complete-game win, to secure the 4-2 victory over the Lady Eagles (1-3).

“We just left too many runners on base and couldn't push them across the plate,” said East Prairie coach Jade Marcum. “Unfortunately our hits weren't in the gaps and we fell a little short of the win. Overall we played well and I feel we are steadily learning and growing as a team.”

Hawkins allowed one earned run on five hits with two strikeouts and six walks.

Advance took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning after Hawkins scored on a sacrifice fly by Maggie Stubenrauch, and Natalee Roper scored on a single by Lily McLeary.

East Prairie narrowed the lead with a run in the top of the fourth Tori Stinnett scored on a line drive single from Riley Wilson. Stinnett reach base with a double to center field that led off the inning.

However, the Lady Hornets increased the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Those runs came when Roper singled to score Stubenrauch and Kaylee Cline scored on a single by Ava Bowling.

The Lady Eagles were able to get one more run across in the top of the seventh inning when Katie Brewer scored on a passed ball, but East Prairie grounded out to end the inning on the next at-bat.

Kennedy Cogdill took the loss after she threw six innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts and two walked batters.

“[Codgill] worked well in the circle today,” Marcum said.

Advance is scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 1. The Lady Hornets will face Ellington (2-1) at 10 a.m. and Scott County Central (2-3) at 2 p.m.

East Prairie will host Portageville (3-5) on Tuesday, April 4.

__ADVANCE 4, EAST PRAIRIE 2__

East Prairie 000 100 1 — 2 6 2

Advance 002 020 0 — 4 6 3

W—Brogan Hawkins. L—Kennedy Cogdill. 2B—East Prairie: Tori Stinnett; Advance: Hawkins.