As the school day concluded Tuesday, Houston Lady Tigers coach Willy Walker shared a message with his seventh hour class.
“I told them they might as well come to the game today because I’ve got a girl that’s going to hit one out,” Walker said.
He was right.
Sophomore Carmen Floyd cleared the center field fence with a two-run homer to highlight the Lady Tigers’ 14-4 five-inning romp of Mountain Grove in the team’s home opener.
Houston (1-1) dropped its season opener 5-3 Monday at Strafford.
The Lady Tigers had 11 hits against Mountain Grove, including three from Tory Burgess. Floyd provided the biggest blow, sending a towering shot over the fence during a six-run rally in the fifth inning.
Walker said Floyd had homered three times in practice in recent days.
“It was just a matter of time because she hits the ball way too hard,” Walker said.
Burgess was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two steals. Floyd knocked in three runs, and Shelbi Moore tripled and had two RBIs.
Bethany Korte and Burgess scored three runs apiece.
“I don’t see hitting a sa problem this year,” Walker said. “I’m confident in them, and they have confidence.”
Senior Hannah Pounds gave up three hits and four runs – one earned – in the complete game victory. She struck out three.
It was the first career victory for Walker in front of a large crowd at Carter Field.
“I appreciate the support we had,” Walker said. “I hope it continues. I see good things for the softball program. It makes it easier when you have support from the town.”
Tuesday’s game
Mtn. Grove 110 02 – 4 3 3
Houston 203 63 – 14 11 2
HOUSTON (1-1) – Korte cf 3-3-2-1. Pounds p 4-1-1-1. Burgess ss 4-3-3-3. Moore 2b 2-2-1-2. Tarrants c 2-1-1-1. Floyd rf 3-1-2-3. Harrah lf 3-0-0-0. Chambers 1b 3-0-0-0. Herndon 3b 2-2-1-0. Totals 26-14-11-11.
2B: Burgess. 3B: Korte, Moore, Floyd. HR: Floyd. SB: Burgess 2
houston ip h r er bb so
Pounds, W 6 3 4 1 0 3
Monday’s game
Houston 201 000 0 – 3 7 0
Strafford 201 002 x – 5 3 2
HOUSTON (0-1) – Korte cf 4-1-2-0. Burgess ss 4-0-0-0. Pounds p 4-0-0-0. Moore 2b 4-1-1-0. Tarrants c 4-0-1-0. Floyd rf 4-1-1-0. Harrah lf 3-0-1-1. Chambers 1b 3-0-1-0. Herndon 2b 3-0-0-0. Totals 33-3-7-1
SB: Korte 4.
houston ip h r er bb so
Pounds, L 6 3 5 5 4 4