Manual’s varsity softball team defeated Silver Lake, 3-2, led by pitcher Emilia Clemons (#18, P), who managed nine strikeouts and maintained a strong Crimson offense. 

After preventing Silver Creek from scoring in the top of the first inning, Lily Kilgore (#30, PR)  was able to advance to second base after a wild pitch. Hailey Kincaid (#14, 1B) was walked by Silver Creek’s pitcher, and Kilgore was able to advance to third base. Kilgore was eventually able to score off of a wild pitch in the bottom of the first. Though another walk allowed the Crimsons to have more runners on base, Silver Creek was able to get the necessary third out to end the first inning. Manual led 1-0. 

The second inning saw no change in the score, as both Manual and Silver Creek stepped up to the plate and had strong defense. 

By the top of the third inning, however, an RBI double allowed a Silver Creek runner to score. However, even with two runners on base, Clemons held them off, ending the top half of the inning with her fourth strikeout. The score was tied, 1-1. With singles by Hannah Bynum (#25, SS) and Clemons, a sacrifice flyout by Kincaid (#14, 1B) allowed Bynum and pinch runner, Kilgore, to advance, putting both of them in scoring position. Bynum was eventually able to score another run, and the inning ended soon after. Manual was now back in the lead, 2-1. 

Though Silver Creek was able to garner a couple of hits, they were prevented from scoring in the top of the fourth by Clemons’ pop-ups, flyouts and more strikeouts. Though with RBI singles by Mac Williams (#21, LF), Macy Carmony (#20, 2B) and Caley Wade (#23, CF), Manual was unable to score, themselves, in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

During the top of the fifth inning, Clemons was able to prevent another run for Silver Creek with her sixth strikeout. Manual quickly earned the other two outs to end the inning. Strong defense from Silver Creek, though, prevented the lady Crimsons from causing any more damage. Score remained 2-1, with Manual in the lead. 

During the top of the sixth inning, Clemons was able to strikeout two players, which were her seventh and eighth strikeouts. The third out occurred when a runner unsuccessfully tried to steal second base, though Jessica Schnurr (#4, RF) was able to get on base with a RBI single. However, Manual was unable to score. Score was still 2-1. 

At the top of the seventh, Manual was able to secure the first out of the inning with a far pop-up foul ball to left field, which was caught by Bynum. However, Silver Creek rebounded with an RBI triple to right field. A sacrifice fly to center field then allowed Silver Creek’s runner to score. Clemons, undeterred, achieved her ninth strikeout of the game, ending the top of the seventh inning. The score was now tied, 2-2 as the game entered the bottom of the seventh inning. A leadoff RBI double down the third base line to the edge of the fence positioned Carmony in scoring position. Silver Creek then intentionally walked Wade. Manual now had two runners on base. Though Carmony tried to steal third, she was unsuccessful. Wade, however, managed to steal second base. That and a strikeout meant that Silver Creek needed only one more out to go to extra innings. However, Clemons was bound and determined to win, and during her at-bat, she was able to hit an RBI single, allowing Wade to score. 

The Lady Crimsons pulled out a win, with the final score being 3-2.

Later remarking about the game, Hailey Kincaid (#14, 1B) said, “[We] had a great battle between 2 teams, [and] ultimately had a really great outcome.” 

The Lady Crimsons’ next game is versus Ryle at home on Saturday. They now improve their record to 12-4.