Sweet Water wins marathon affair with Washington County

Sweet Water softball won a wild one Tuesday when it downed Washington County 14-12 despite four costly errors and nine unearned runs.

The Bulldogs trailed 8-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth when Lara Little was hit by a pitch to ignit a seven-run rally. Elaina Mitchell and Kora Myers each followed with singles to load the bases. Kayla Marshall followed with a double to plate Little and Mitchell. Thea Luker singled in Myers to cut the deficit to 8-5. Natalie Luker then doubled in Marshall and BreAnna Ramsey to pull the Bulldogs to within a run. Two batters later, Sara Irvin hit a two-run shot for her second homer of the game to put Sweet Water up 9-8.

Washington County rallied in the sixth to score three and take an 11-9 lead. Marshall got Sweet Water going in the home half of the sixth with a one-out double. Thea Luker then singled ahead of a Natalie Luker RBI grounder that cut it to 11-10. Lindsey Davis then singled in Ramsey to tie it. Two batters later, Kamae Retic reached on an error and Davis scored to put the Bulldogs up 12-11. Little then doubled in Irvin and Retic for the 14-11 lead.

Sweet Water tallied 19 hits in the contest. Irvin led the way with a double, two homers, three runs scored and three RBIs. Little had four hits including a double to go along with two RBIs and a run scored. Marshall doubled twice, scored twice and drove in two runs. Natalie Luker had two hits including a double as well as three RBIs. Lindsey Davis and Thea Luker notched three hits and one RBI apiece.

Sweet Water (16-17) followed the effort with a pair of tough losses to Clarke County in a Thursday doubleheader.