Lady Longhorns walk off with win over Clarke

LINDEN — After playing seven scoreless innings, Marengo Academy had to come from behind twice to pull off a 3-2 nine-inning win over Clarke Prep Tuesday.

Down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth and playing under International Tie-Breaker rules, the Lady Longhorns cashed in on an opportunity when Conner Etheridge ripped a two-strike double to plate Brooke Smyly from second and tie the game.

Andrea Edmonds followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Etheridge to third. After Kimberly Moore came in as a pinch runner for Etheridge at third base, senior Alexia Johnson punctuated Senior Night with a walk-off single to pick up the game-winning RBI.

The frame followed an eighth inning in which the Lady Longhorns battled from a 1-0 deficit when Anna Michael Crocker hit a sacrifice fly to plate Johnson. MA had the bases loaded with only one out, but proved unable to score again.

The late offensive spurts proved enough to back a sterling performance by Edmonds in which she struck out 15 over nine innings and surrendered the lone CPA hit in the seventh inning.

Marengo Academy is scheduled to play again Friday in a double-header at Tuscaloosa Academy before hosting the region tournament April 25-26.