BROWNSTOWN
The Brownstown Central softball team was able to get a tying runner on third base with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn’t capitalize in a 4-3 Mid-Southern Conference loss to Silver Creek on Tuesday.
Following a scoreless first inning, the Braves built a 2-0 lead behind RBIs from seniors Bailey Bonebright and Haley Martin.
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The Dragons answered with a run in the third off a fielder’s choice.
In the top of the fourth inning, Dragons sophomore Vanessa Parrish hit an RBI single with loaded bases.
Braves senior pitcher Kourtney Branman threw base-on-balls on the next hitter to allow the Dragons to tie the game at 2-2.
The Braves retook the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning when freshman Emma Zabor came in on a wild pitch while courtesy running for senior catcher Maeleigh Tidd.
Following a double to left-center field by Dragons senior McKenzie Bush, the Braves fielded a ground out. However, the throw to third base, from first, sailed above the baseman and Bush scored on the Braves’ error.
A leadoff single by short stop Lisa Scott got the Braves on base in the bottom of the seventh, and she was able to advance to third, but there wouldn’t be a comeback on senior night.
“The difference was we weren’t getting hits when we had runners in scoring positions,” Braves coach Monte Ault said. “That, and we had a couple errors that hurt us pretty bad. We had a chance but couldn’t get it in.”
Tidd finished with three of the Braves’ five hits on the afternoon.
“We had three hits in that third inning and two after that,” Ault said. “We knew we were coming in about equal with them. It has been one or two plays that have cost us some games.”
This year, the Braves will graduate seven seniors from their program.
“This group of seniors has meant a lot to our program,” Ault said. “The girls in our system go way back, a lot of them have been playing for almost 10 years. They’re going to be missed. They are dedicated to softball and have worked hard.”
With the loss, the Braves move to 15-8 on the season. The Braves have three losses in conference play and will likely finish second in the MSC.
“We lost the game tonight, but we have a lot ahead of us,” Ault said. “We feel like we can still win the sectional. We have the team, we just need to be playing our kind of softball.”