FTCC vs. USC Sumter- Saturday, February 3 (16-15, Win 9-innings)
The Lady Trojans opened up their season with a tri-match between USC Sumter and Bryant & Stratton College.
The Fire Ants get one run in the first, taking the lead early with three singles. Tamarah Lowery (Raeford, NC), who is on the mound for the Trojans, gets out of the first and third situation with a strikeout and ground out to end the inning.
It is a slow start in the top of the second for USC Sumter with a quick two outs. The Fire Ants then get a double followed by three singles to put two more runs on the board. Lowery gets the strikeout for the final out of the inning, but not before the Fire Ants plate two more.
Going into the bottom of the second the Trojans are down 0-5. The inning starts off the same as the first going down with two outs fast. Ava Basolt (Sanford, NC) gets the first hit of the game for the Trojans and the energy starts to come alive on the bench. Another single by Kaylee Frank (Fayetteville, NC) scores Basolt and puts the Trojans on the board with one. Faith Martin (Gatesville, NC) proceeds to walk and four more singles follow by Madeline Burns (Sanford, NC), Trinity Gaither (Bunnlevel, NC), Isabella Finelli (Pembroke, NC) and Morgan Brady (Fayetteville, NC) tying the game up at five. The Trojans forced USC Sumter to change their pitcher, but that did not stop the momentum when Lowery doubles on the second pitch to right field scoring two more. Lowery then advances to third and scores on two wild pitches, making the score 8-5 Trojans as they go into the third inning.
The Fire Ants go down in order with three fly balls, so it is time for the Trojans to hit again in the bottom of the third.
The Trojans lead off with three singles by Frank, Martin and Burns. That puts Gaither up with the bases loaded, who gets an RBI walk to add another run to the board for the Trojans. Finelli puts pressure on the defense with a fly ball, which ends with an error on the Fire Ants allowing another run to score.
The game gets quiet in the fourth inning, with the score staying the same until the Fire Ants respond back in the top of the fifth. An error and a few hits allow two more runs putting them back in reach 8-10.
Burns tries to bring the energy back to the Trojan side in the fifth, leading off with a line drive single to left field. After two outs and Burns on second base, Brady rips a double to center field driving in another run for the Trojans.
Lowery gets a ground out, strikeout and pop out in the sixth to keep the Trojans in the lead.
Krista McLean (Dunn, NC) starts the bottom of the sixth off with a single, followed by a single by Basolt. A fielder’s choice puts runners on first and second base with Martin coming back up to bat. She hits a hard ground ball up the middle to score Basolt and bring the score to 12-8 Trojans.
USC Sumter responds in the seventh with their last chance on the line. A single, error and walk load the bases for the Fire Ants with one out. They then get three more singles and a passed ball to take the lead 13-12 over the Trojans.
FTCC was not going down without a fight. Finelli leads off the inning with a single and Brady reaches on an error. A fielder’s choice puts runners on the corners with one out. Lowery steals second base and Mclean walks to load the bases for the Trojans. A sacrifice fly to right field by Basolt scores Finelli tying the game at 13. They keep the energy going with another walk, but Lowery is caught stealing at home to end the inning.
Going into extra innings, a runner starts at second base. The Trojans get a pop up to right field for the first out of the inning with the running remaining on second base. That runner then steals third base and scores two pitches later on a wild pitch, giving the Fire Ants the lead. An error allows one more run to come in and Basolt goes into pitch for the Trojans. She gets two pop outs to end the inning.
In a do or die situation for the Trojans in the bottom of the eighth, Frank starts on second base. Martin smashes a high fly over the left field fence to keep the Trojans in the game back at 15 all. They get a few more runners on base with a walk from Gaither and a single by Finelli, but they do not get the winning run across the plate.
Basolt comes out hot in the top of the ninth with two strikeouts and a pop fly for a quick inning for the Trojans.
Still in extra innings, Brady starts on second base and Lowery is up to bat. She hits a pop fly to the right field and Brady tags up to advance to third base. McLean with three balls at the plate, gets a wild pitch to walk and Brady scores from third for the game winning run. Trojans win 16-15 in 9-innings.
FTCC vs. Bryant & Stratton- Saturday, February 3 (9-14, Loss)
The second game for the Trojans was against the Bobcats of Bryant & Stratton College. The Trojans jumped on top early scoring two in the first. It started with a one out four pitch walk to Finelli. Then Brady jacks a triple to left field and ends up scoring on the throw giving the Trojans a 2-0 lead going into the second.
The Bobcats answer right back in the top of the second, starting the inning with a triple and a double to put them within one run of the Trojans. A strikeout from pitcher Basolt, and a fly out to right field makes it two outs with a runner on third for the Bobcats. They get one more single to center field to allow the tying run to cross the plate.
The Trojans are not ready to give up yet, taking the lead once again in the bottom of the second. A one out single by Burns, an error and a walk load the bases for Brady. She gains another RBI with a single to center field to plate one more and reload the bases. Lowery grounds into a fielder’s choice, letting the Trojans score another time.
The Bobcats get back on top in the third from a few hits and a homerun by their catcher, Isabella Wren. They take the lead back 5-4 Bobcats, with no response from the Trojans in the bottom of the inning.
The score continues to increase in the fourth for both sides. The Bobcats tack on two more runs to their lead, but this time the Trojans respond back bringing the game within one.
In the bottom of the fourth, two walks lead off the inning by Gaither and Finelli. Again, Brady steps up and hits a line drive single to left field to plate Gaither from second base, while Finelli gets thrown out trying to advance to third. A walk by Lowery allows a runner to get back into scoring position for the Trojans. Basolt hits a fly ball to center field, Brady tags and makes her way to third base. With the advance, a wild pitch lets Brady cross the plate before the third out of the inning.
A double and an error starts the top of the fifth for the Bobcats, which leads to a pitching change for the Trojans. Lowery steps into the circle with no outs and runners on the corners. Bryant & Stratton does not back down after the change, getting four more hits and a two walks to bring the score to 13-6 in Bobcats favor.
The Trojans take advantage of an error, a few walks and singles by Burns and Lowery to chip away at the lead. They make it 13-9 Bobcats going into the sixth inning.
Lowery holds them to only one run on three hits in the sixth, giving the Trojans a chance to get back into the ball game.
The game gets quiet as they finish out the last inning and a half with no more runs being plated for either team. Bobcats win 14-9 over the Trojans.
Brady leads the Trojans with three hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored. The team had eight hits and ten walks to score their nine runs in the contest.
The Lady Trojans play their next game Saturday, February 10. A doubleheader against Gaston College starting at 2pm. Their next home games are against Florence-Darlington starting at 4pm Friday, February 23.
