The Houston softball team’s offensive outburst toppled one of the top teams in its district.
Ashley Gilbert was 4-for-4 with a home run and 4 runs batted in and Claire Benoist also went deep as HHS bashed Bourbon 22-7 in three innings on the road Monday.
Seven players had hits in the 13-hit effort, including 2 apiece from Benoist, Gracyn McNiell and Ava Koch. Benoist drove home 3 runs while McNiell, Koch and Izzy Cook had two RBIs each.
“That was the most disciplined plate performance we’ve had all year,” Lady Tigers coach Conley Aaron said.
Bourbon (15-4) is the No. 3 seed in Thursday’s Class 2 District 3 Tournament and had won 7 of its previous 8 games before Houston, the top district seed, came to town.
The Lady Tigers quickly jumped ahead 8-0 with four runs in each of the first two innings. Koch had a two-run double in the first and Gilbert had a two-run homer – her fourth of the season – in the second. Benoist made it back-to-back longballs with her solo shot to center.
After Bourbon scored 4 unearned runs in the third, Houston (13-7) put the game away with a 14-run third inning. Gilbert had a 2-run single and McNiell added a 2-run double in the rally.
Koch got the win, allowing 6 hits and 1 earned run in 3 innings. She walked 2 and struck out 1.
Winners of 7 of their last 9 games, Houston has home makeup games Tuesday and Wednesday against Willow Springs and Liberty. District play begins at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Potosi against Steelville.
BOX SCORE
Houston 44(14) – 22 13 3
Bourbon 043 – 7 6 8
HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – McNiell c 2-4-2-2. Kincaid ss 3-2-0-0. Evans 2b 2-3-1-1. Gilbert 1b 4-4-4-4. Benoist 3b 2-4-2-3. Koch p 2-2-2-2. Cook lf 3-1-1-2. Warner dp 4-0-0-0. Clinton cf 2-2-1-0. Totals 24-22-13-14.
2B: Gilbert, Koch, Benoist, McNiell. HR: Gilbert, Benoist. SB: Gilbert, Koch, McNiell, Kincaid, Clinton. CS: Clinton. HBP: McNiell.
Winning pitcher: Koch.