Galion’s softball team lost focus for an inning against Marion Harding, and it cost them. The Lady Tigers committed four one-out errors in the bottom of the fifth inning allowing the Presidents to score four runs. The scoring outburst gave Marion a 6-2 lead on their way to a 7-2 win.
“Definitely errors are what killed us,” said Galion head coach Doug Hunt. “We’re losing focus.”
Harding took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a wild pitch. The Harding runner, Hannah Jenner, singled and advanced to third on a pair of ground ball outs before scoring.
Galion tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning when shortstop Jamie Ehrman scored from third base on a passed ball. Ehrman was hit by a pitch and stole second and third base to put herself in scoring position.
Harding broke the tie in the home half of the fourth. Alison Russell hit a lead-off double and scored on Jenner’s single to left, giving the home team a 2-1 lead.
The bottom of the fifth started with a routine 6-3 out. Taylor Leonard then legged out a bunt single. Shay Scott hit a ball to second base which was fumbled, allowing her to reach safely and advance Leonard to second base.
Russell came to the plate for Harding and hit a hard line drive that glanced of the Galion second baseman’s glove, sending the ball into right field. The pitcher received the outfield throw and tried to get the advancing runner at third base. The throw was errant and skidded past the third baseman into foul ground, allowing three runs to score. The Presidents added another run in the inning to take a 6-1 lead.
Ehrman scored the Lady Tigers second run of the game in the same fashion she scored the first. Reaching on a bunt single, she stole second and third before coming home on a throwing error by the Harding pitcher, Jenner.
The manner in which Ehrman scored reflects the style of baseball coach Hunt expects. “Our one through four batters are pretty quick and we try to manufacture runs even if we don’t hit the ball,” said Hunt.
Harding added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the final 7-2.
Jenner struck out 11 Galion hitters, including the final three in the seventh, on her way to the win. Harding’s first year head coach Eric Shirk praised his pitchers performance. “She had quite a few [strikeouts]. Hannah’s a beast, she’s only a sophomore. She’s going to have a big year; she has a lot of upswing.”
Jenner allowed two runs on two hits in seven innings of work.
Emily Sedmak took the loss for Galion. Sedmak pitched six innings and allowed eight hits along with seven runs; she had a pair of strike outs.
Coach Hunt will look to get the team ready for their game at Fairbanks on Friday. “We’re going to go back and re-focus this thing (the team) and get back on track.”
Galion is 0-2 in Mid Ohio Athletic Conference play and 3-3 overall.
