Luker almost flawless against Fruitdale
Thea Rae Luker dominated yesterday against the Fruitdale. The Coastal Alabama signee pitched her second career no hitter striking out 13 of the 15 batters she faced in 5 innings, Sweet Water sailed past the Pirates 11-0.
Thea Luker was almost perfect Thursday. The Sweet Water senior saw her team hang five runs on the board in the bottom of the first and never looked back en route to a 11-0 victory against Class 1A, Area 1 foe Fruitdale.
Luker struck out the side in the first and third innings and would have repeated the feat in the second if not for a hit batsman that proved the Pirates’ lone baserunner of the contest. She ended the day with a no-hitter while striking out 13 batters over five innings of play on only 75 pitches.
Sara Irvin started the first-inning rally for Sweet Water with a double to left. Two batters later, Lara Little singled to center to plate Irvin for the 1-0 lead. While that would prove to be all the run support Luker needed, she would get plenty more.
Kora Myers later tripled in Natalie Luker and Madison Smith for the 3-0 lead. Eve Myers then drove in Kora Myers on a groundball. Four batters later, Irvin singled home Eve Myers for the 5-0 lead.
Eve Myers did more damage in the bottom of the second inning when she singled Kora Myers home for the 6-0 advantage. Lindsey Davis scored on a Kamae Retic grounder for the 8-0 lead.
Kora Myers singled in Smith for the 10-0 lead. Shakedra Brothers tripled in Thea Luker in the home half of the fourth to cap the scoring at 11-0.
Sweet Water was aggressive on the basepaths in the game, stealing 15 bases on the day. Irvin, Retic, Kora Myers and BreAnna Ramsey each swiped three bags apiece. Davis stole two while Littla stole one.
Irvin finished 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and a run scored. Retic scored a run and drove in a run. Little was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Natalie Luker went 2-for-3 with a double. Smith scored a pair of runs.
Kora Myers went 2-for-2 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored. Eve Myers was 1-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored. Thea Luker went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Brothers finished 1-for-1 with a triple and one RBI. Ramsey scored a run. Davis finished 1-for-1 with a run scored.
Sweet Water (6-8) is scheduled to play again Monday when it hosts Clarke County.