The last time the Louisa County softball team faced Orange County, the Lions saw the jaws of defeat snatch away a victory in the last inning. And with weather negating an opportunity to play again in 2016, it was a long wait. But thanks to a huge game in the circle from Taylor Robinson and an opportunistic day at the plate, Louisa picked up a much desired 6-2 win over the Hornets on Friday.
“Taylor’s just been great for us pitching, coming out focused and staying hot,” said Lions coach Jennifer Falin. “We played good team small ball and executing, getting big hits when we need them. It was great to see them play all seven innings. We definitely mentioned that at the end of the game last year we were up and Orange came back to beat us. So we kept harping that one run wasn’t enough. Two wasn’t enough. That helped down the stretch.”
Kennedie Batchelor led the Lions off with a double and after an RBI ground out from Robinson and an error two batters later, it was 2-0.
The first half of the game was back-and-forth. Orange responded in the bottom of the second with a homerun to centerfield from Mikayla Herndon, on her birthday, the Hornets had the lead cut to 2-1.
“We just have to make contact,” said Hornets coach Doris Buzzell. “We had too many strikeouts, too many looking. We just have to keep working and fighting next week with Monticello and Fluvanna. We’ll be ready.”
But the Lions answered back in the top of the third. Robinson doubled with one out and was brought home on an error to make it 3-1. In turn, the Hornets made 3-2 with Ashley Brassart picking up an RBI double.
Louisa got another leadoff double from Batchelor in the top of the fifth and she scored on a sacrifice fly from Morgan Mitchell three batters later. And in the sixth, the Lions got a 1-out double from Lashae Mickey who was consequently brought home on an RBI groundout from Taylor Dickerson to make it 5-2.
“This just felt really good, it’s been so long since we’ve beat them and they’re always really good,” Batchelor said.
That was more than enough for Robinson to work with as the senior was dialed in after the second inning. Robinson finished with 13 strikeouts and got nine of them from the third inning on and finished with just five hits and three walks.
“The home run wasn’t that big of a deal because it’s not the first I’ve given up against them so I knew if I just kept hitting my spots or was close we’d be alright,” Robinson said. “I mean really, I just trusted that my teammates were going to hit tonight and they did. There wasn’t a lot given off the plate so it was about hitting the corners and not giving anything up down the middle (of the plate).”
For Louisa, Batchelor was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Mitchell and Robinson both went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Mickey was 1-for-1 with an RBI.
Orange saw Brooke Figgins, Brassart, Shelby Tidwell and Herndon all go 1-for-3. Lexi Lomax was 0-for-1 with a pair of walks and a run scored.
The Hornets (4-4, 1-2) host Monticello on Tuesday while Louisa plays five games in five days for it’s spring break tournament next week.
