A two out rally in the top of the 7th inning came up just short for the Todd County Central Lady Rebels in their season opener Monday evening. The Lady Rebels went on the road and dropped a tight 6-5 decision to McLean County.
Todd Central jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The big hit in the inning was an RBI triple from Emma Harris.
McLean County came back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 2-1. The Lady Cougars would then tie the game with another run in the bottom of the second.
Todd Central went back to the lead in the top of the 3rd inning when Harris drove in Jordan Weathers with an RBI single to make it 3-2.
McLean County took advantage of a Lady Rebel error to score two runs in the bottom of the 4th and take a 4-3 lead. Todd Central came right back in the top of the 5th inning to tie it up at 4-4 when Harris again drove in Jordan Weathers with an RBI single.
The Lady Cougars picked up two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to go up 6-4 and set up a dramatic finish.
After the first two Todd County Central batters were retired in the top of the 7th, Lindsey Roe singled to right field. W. Higgins followed that up with another single to give the Lady Rebels runners on first and second. E. Harris came up with Todd Central’s third straight single to drive in Roe and cut the Lady Cougar lead to 6-5. The rally would fall just short when S. Case grounded into a fielder’s choice at third base for the final out of the game.
Emma Harris had a huge night for the Lady Rebels, going 4-4 with 4 RBIs and a triple. Lindsey Roe was 2-2 with two runs scored. Whitney Higgins was 2-4 in the game.
Maddie Williams went 5 2/3 in the circle for the Lady Rebels, giving up six runs, only three of them earned, on 12 hits. She struck out five and walked three.