Belleville West scores 13, but loses in short-game to Edwardsville

It was a slugfest except for the two innings when Belleville West stopped slugging.

Edwardsville junior pitcher Jordan Garella got through the third and fourth innings unscathed in a game that matched two high-scoring teams on a day when the wind was blowing out. Otherwise, 36 total runs were scored on 33 hits, including six that cleared the fence.

But, because of that two-inning drought, West ended up on the short end of a 23-13 short-game loss to the Tigers.

"You knew it would be that way. With the win blowing out to center and right, both sides pitchers hung a couple and hitters made them pay," said Edwardsville coach Lori Blade. "I know she gave up some runs, but Garella pitched pretty well considering the conditions ... To just get that shutout for an inning or two really made a difference, especially since we were able to come back and score some in the end."

The Maroons scored at least 12 runs for the fourth straight game, but they’ve allowed 54 runs during the same stretch.

West had 13 hits with just one strike out against three Edwardsville pitchers Thursday. Edwardsville touched Belleville pitchers for 20 hits, 10 of them for extra bases.

"I cannot complain about our hitters today. They did all I can ask for them to do," said West coach Casey Garrett. "This game was about the pitchers. Edwardsville has always been a great hitting team and our pitchers need to learn to adjust to the batters.”

Belleville West fell to 6-7 while Edwarsdville improved to 6-2.

Key Moments

The game was tied 7-7 at the end of the second inning. West got an RBI single in the first inning and a three-run home run in the second from third baseman Morgan Hinkle. Rachel Anderson, Sarah Hangslaben and Allison Loehr each drove home two runs in the first two frames.

But Edwardsville added five runs as the Maroons stalled in the third and fourth. Hangslaben's second home run of the day put the Tigers ahead 12-7 at the end of four.

West threatened to close the gap in the fifth when senior Olivia Young led off with a triple and scored on a single by Hinkle, her fifth RBI of the game. Alyssa James then singled to put two on with nobody out.

But Edwardsville second baseman Jordan Corby robbed Paige Cates of a hit into right center and doubled Hinkle off of second. Instead of closing the game to two runs with two on and still nobody out, the Maroons were left with one on and two out.

Garella, a junior, felt the difference.

"It was getting close for a while and Jordan made just a huge play," she said. "I just felt like the defense was supporting me. I always appreciate that a lot, especially from a senior."

West bounced back with a four-run sixth, powered by a three-run drive by Young, who set the career record at West with four home runs in a round robin in Carbondale Saturday.

But Edwarsdville responded with six runs in the bottom half of the sixth to complete the short game.

Key Performers

Hinkle led the Maroons with five RBI on three hits, including the second-inning home run. Young had three RBI on two hits and scored two runs. Junior Kiri Evans reached base on two walks and a hit and scored all three times.

Izzy Holtrop, who shared the Maroons' pitching duties with Cates, had two hits while driving in one run and scoring another. Daisha Price had two hits, two runs and an RBI.

Every position in the Edwardsville batting order scored at least one run. Hangslaben scored four times in addition to her two home runs and five RBI. Anderson scored three runs and drove in three more on a triple and a pair of doubles. Loehr hit a two-run home run in the first and a three-run double in the sixth.

Taryn Brown also homered for the Tigers.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 9:12 PM with the headline "Belleville West scores 13, but loses in short-game to Edwardsville."