Edwardsville shuts out O'Fallon behind Fox's 10 strikeouts

Marley Fox got stronger as the game went along against the O'Fallon Panthers.

The Edwardsville pitcher recorded eight of her 10 strikeouts over the final three innings to pitch the Tigers to a 4-0 win over the Panthers on April 16 inside the District 7 Sports Complex.

"I feel like I always settle in as the game goes on and I'm able to adjust to the strike zone," Fox said.

It was the 10th straight win for EHS, which is 17-7 overall and 6-0 in the Southwestern Conference. O'Fallon is 9-5, including 3-3 in the SWC.

"This was a really good team win," EHS first baseman Maggie Bray said. "O'Fallon is a really good team. From getting the double play in the first inning to Marley pitching well at the end, this was a really good win."

It was the second straight complete-game effort for Fox, who scattered five hits and struck out 10 with one walk. She threw 99 pitches, including 65 for strikes.

Fox improved to 8-2 with her sixth straight win. She has allowed three earned runs over 29 innings during the stretch.

"The game plan was to get my movement going and keeping the pitches away from them as much as possible. We know they're a strong hitting team," Fox said of O'Fallon, which entered the game averaging 6.9 runs.

Finding the strike zone was key for Fox. From the third inning on, O'Fallon went 1 for 10 in at-bats that began with a first-pitch strike.

"I was using my curve ball a lot tonight and was keeping it off the plate. When I was up in the count, they were chasing it," Fox said.

Edwardsville coach Caty Happe knew her pitcher was dialed in against O'Fallon.

"She got cleaner and crisper as the game went on. She is really focused and trying to get better with each game," Happe said. "When we talk, I'm asking her how she's doing and I can tell by just her presence. She has felt good lately."

Edwardsville's offense backed up Fox with four runs on seven hits, including two from Bray. She also drove in two runs.

Bray's RBI single to right to plate Lily Stone started the scoring in the second. She came around to score on an RBI ground-rule double by Maksine Straub to make it 2-0.

"I had two strikes. I was really looking for anything close to help out the team," Bray said.

Edwardsville went ahead 3-0 on Bray's RBI triple down the right-field line to score Sophie Antonini in the fourth.

"I knew the pitcher was quicker and she threw outside, so I was really looking there," Bray said. "I was happy with the triple and the line drive to right."

In the fifth, Brooke Burris added a triple of her own to deep right to score Bryar Ellinger for the 4-0 lead.

Burris and Straub each finished with a hit and RBI, while Ellinger and Antonini each had a hit.

O'Fallon pitcher Kennedy Clark allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits. She struck out three.

The Panthers were led at the plate by Haylee Williams, who went 2 for 3 with a double.

Edwardsville will look to extend its longest win streak since 2022 when it travels to Triad at 4:30 p.m. April 17 in Troy.

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