HHS outfielders Natalie Clinton, right, and Ember Green jog off the field after Clinton's catch to end the sixth inning Thursday at Mountain Grove. (Jeff McNiell | Houston Herald)
The Nos. 7, 8 and 9 hitters came up clutch for the Houston softball team in a road conference game.
The trio of Izzy Cook, Aristea Melroy and Natalie Clinton had six combined hits and five runs scored as the Lady Tigers topped Mountain Grove 7-1 on Thursday.
The Lady Tigers (8-5) improved to 2-0 in the SCA and won their second straight game following three lopsided losses last weekend in Illinois.
“The bottom of our lineup was huge today,” HHS coach Conaley Aaron said.
Career game for Cook
Cook had 3 hits this season before breaking out against the Lady Panthers. The sophomore outfielder was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and her second stolen base of the season. Cook also snagged a line drive in left field on a key defensive play.
Complete game from Kincaid
Although she didn’t record a stikeout, Houston right-hander Lilly Kincaid kept Mountain Grove off-balance with her changeup and dropball over seven strong innings. She limited the Lady Panthers to five hits and one unearned run while walking two. Kincaid has allowed just one earned run in 10 innings in conference play and is 2-0.
Clinton drives in pair
Clinton, the team’s No. 9 hitter, went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. She had the team’s lone extra-base hit – a two-run double in the fifth inning to make it 7-0 – and a stolen base.
HHS 2-0 against Grove
Senior Ashley Gilbert, who had a pair of hits and drove in two runs, shares a laugh with teammate Ava Koch in the dugout. The Lady Tigers, who beat Mountain Grove 18-16 in the third-place game of the SCA Tournament on March 28, are 2-0 this season against the Lady Panthers. Both games were in Mountain Grove.
