Just when a four-run lead seems enough, there is always something that will happen in the end.
KKOW took a 4-0 lead out of the top of the first and increased it to 5-3 in the third inning, but State Farm plated five runs in the top of the fourth and held KKOW to just one in the bottom for an 8-6 win in the first round of the Pittsburg Fastpitch Association Senior League tournament Tuesday at the Gene Bicknell Sports Complex.
In the fourth, State Farm was able to take advantage of a pair of RBI singles from Alaura Short and Asia Davis as well as four walks issued during the inning to take the lead for good.
“We’ve hit the ball good all year long,” said State Farm head coach Rick Moore. “We always seem to spot them runs early.”
In the top of the first, Kristin Curran drew an RBI walk and Kathryn Smith hit an RBI single to shallow right field to help KKOW take an early 4-0 lead.
From there, even KKOW head coach Chris Flood thought it might be enough for a win.
“You just never know,” Flood said. “There’s always a chance.”
But, State Farm responded in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs after Megan Reed scored Brandee Main on a sacrifice grounder and Sam Sarley hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Brie Moore.
KKOW extended its margin in the third after Smith scored on an infield error by State Farm, putting KKOW back up 5-2.
Reed got a run back for State Farm in the bottom of the inning when she scored on a wild pitch then State Farm came up big in the fourth.
After Moore and Main drew lead-off walks, Short hit an RBI single through the infield into left field. Three batters later, Higgins walked with the bases loaded then Davis plated another run with her shot to right.
“She [Davis] surprised me there,” Rick Moore said.
For KKOW, the four walks issued in the inning turned out to be dangerous.
“There was a little bit of trouble,” Flood said. “We had just that one bad inning.”
It was that one bad inning that made the difference as State Farm gave up just one run in the bottom of the fourth to preserve the win.
The loss drops KKOW into the losers bracket while State Farm moves on to face top-seeded Fat Daddy’s at 5:30 p.m. today.
“The more games you can win the better,” Rick Moore said. “We’ve been pretty competitive and, hopefully, everything will hold up for us.”
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140. Follow Morning Sun sports at twitter.com/mssports.
Pittsburg Fastpitch Association
Senior League tournament
at Gene Bicknell Sports Complex
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
State Farm 8, KKOW 6
State Farm 201 5 — 8 4 4
KKOW 401 1 — 6 1 1
Katelyn Higgins and Bethany McCloud. Kristin Curran and Emily Honsicker. WP — Higgins. LP — Curran. LOB — State Farm 4, KKOW 7. E — Megan Reed, Brie Moore, McCloud, Brandee Main; Kyra Hunt. SB — Main 2, Moore, Alaura Short, Reed 2, Higgins; Abbie O’Brien, Liz Willis 2, Kathryn Smith.
PITTSBURG —
