Huffman uses long ball to get past Liberty
A Liberty Lady Panther hits the dirt on Thursday night at home against Huffman. The Vindicator | Jerry Michalsky
Head Coach Karen Slack congratulates Reagan Williamson of Liberty after her second-inning homer against Huffman on Thursday night at home. The Vindicator | Jerry Michalsky
Kamdyn Chandler of Liberty in the wind up against Huffman on Thursday night at home. The Vindicator | Jerry Michalsky
The Huffman Lady Falcons used a pair of two-run homers in the fifth and sixth innings to break open a 1-1 tie and then put the game away with three runs in the seventh to knock off Liberty 8-2 on Thursday night at the Lady Panthers diamond.
Liberty had two home runs also, but both were solo shots.
The first of those came in the bottom of the second when Reagan Williamson lifted a pitch and drove it way over the center-field fence to give the Lady Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Huffman tied the game with a run in the top of the third to make it a 1-1 game.
The Lady Falcons took their first lead of the night in the top of the fifth as Taylor Byron hit a two-run homer, and Huffman led 3-1.
In the bottom half of the frame, Liberty put a couple of runners on as Maci Beam and Bailee Slack singled, but both would be stranded on base.
An inning later, Kristin Kruger extended the lead as she belted a home run with a teammate on, and the Lady Falcons had a 5-1 advantage.
The Lady Panthers threatened again in the bottom of the sixth by loading the bases as Breeze Pantalion singled, and that would be followed by a Reese Evans single, and then Beam would walk.
Huffman winning pitcher Kylen Padgett settled down and would get out of the inning without allowing a run.
The Lady Falcons then added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to lead 8-1.
Kylie Bishop then blasted a Padgett pitch over the center-field wall for Liberty in the bottom of the seventh inning for the night’s final run.
The Lady Panthers actually outhit Huffman 10-9 for the game. Beam, Bishop, and Williamson all had two hits apiece.
Kamdyn Chandler struck out five on the mound for Liberty.
The best news of the night was that Hollie Thomas and Kendall Daniel were both present at the game rooting their teammates on. In separate incidents, Thomas and Daniel were involved in car accidents earlier this week.
We wish them both a speedy recovery.