Published August 26, 2008 12:07 am -
Rougherettes come up short in the clutch against Tahlequah
By Jeremy Short
Phoenix Correspondent
TAHLEQUAH — Muskogee stumbled in the clutch and thus had its three-game winning streak snapped Monday, falling 3-1 to Tahlequah.
“We weren’t able to get the big two-out hits we needed,” said Muskogee coach Mack Chambers. “That was part of our game plan going in.”
Angela Dry kept Muskogee off balance for much of the day at the plate pitching all 7 innings and giving up just six hits and a run.
“Their pitcher did a good job mixing up pitches,” said Chambers. “She did exactly what she needed to do.”
The Tigers jumped in front in the second inning when Jessie Patrick hit an RBI groundout to score Jenna Reed, who got to third after a passed ball got by Rougherettes catcher Madison Reed.
Paige Crow then followed with an RBI double to give Tahlequah the 2-0 advantage early. Crow finished that game 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
“Anytime we go against Muskogee, it’s always a good win when we get one,” Tahlequah coach Ronnie Rogers said. “It’s one of those type of deals that whoever gets out on top has an advantage. We got the early and maintained it. That was a key to the whole game.
“We had a good defensive game. We didn’t hit the ball great, but we took advantage of couple of breaks and did what we had to do to win.”
Muskogee (5-5) cut the deficit in half when Hycie Stancle hit an RBI double that scored Ladarra Brown. Then with two outs and the tying run at third base, Laura Fleck grounded out to end the inning.
Tahlequah (7-3) scored again in the third on a sacrifice fly by Crow that scored Ashley Boswell.
The Rougherettes had a chance to cut into the lead in the fourth inning after Stancle hit a two-out double to give Muskogee runners on second and third base, but Fleck grounded out to end the inning.
Muskogee got only two hits and failed to get a runner into scoring position the rest of the game.
Stancle led the Rougherettes from the plate going 2-3 with a double and RBI. Fleck, Reed, Brown, and Emily Emberson also added hits for Muskogee.
Muskogee will get a chance to get back on the winning track Tuesday when they host Jenks. Game time is for 5 p.m.