A 7-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed the Columbus Wildcats (11-9, 7-3) to shut the door on the upstart New London-Winfield-Mt. Union Tigers (2-16, 1-8) via a mercy rule walkoff as Columbus defended its home field in a 16-8 victory.
Coming off of their second win of the year, the Tigers jumped on top early, plating three runs in the first three innings as eighth-grade pitcher Kylea Schwenker set down the first six Wildcat hitters in order, allowing New London-WMU to build an early 3-0 lead.
Columbus began to come to life though, as Jaqueline Farrier sparked back-to-back rallies in the third and fourth innings, becoming the first Columbus baserunner of each inning as the ‘Cats took advantage of four Tiger errors to plate nine runs, eight of which were unearned, over the course of two frames.
New London came roaring back in the fifth, though, scoring four runs in the top of the fifth and forcing starting pitcher Lily Coil out of the game as the Tigers brought the game within a single run.
After holding Columbus scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, New London looked primed to complete the comeback as Jayda Nichols, representing the tying run, stepped to the plate and slapped a liner down the first-base line for a single. Seeing an opportunity to reach scoring position, Nichols tried to take second, but a perfectly-placed throw by right fielder Iris Garza cut Nichols down at second for the first out of the inning. Without Nichols on the basepaths, two more singles in the frame were unable to plate a run, giving Columbus all the momentum it needed.
Garza led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk, the first walk Schwenker had allowed on the night, sparking a game-ending streak of ten consecutive runners reaching base. When Garza returned to the plate, she drove a walk-off RBI single into right field to push Columbus over the eight-run margin it needed to trigger the mercy rule and end the game.
The bottom third scored six runs on the evening for Columbus, as Garza finished the night two for three at the plate with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI, while Farrier finished the night two for three with three runs, a hit by pitch, and an RBI.
Coil came away with the win, allowing eight runs, seven of which were earned, on eight hits, two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.
The outing was a positive sign for the Columbus defense, which had allowed twice as many unearned runs as earned runs entering the evening,
“I trust [the defense] no matter what kind of night it is, and tonight they really showed and we cleaned it up after that one error.”
Schwenker was hit with the loss, allowing 16 runs, eight of which were earned, on 11 hits, three walks, and three strikeouts in five-and-one-third innings of work. 7 of those runs, all earned, came in the bottom of the sixth.
Schwenker was joined by Olivia Hester in leading the way offensively for New London, as each went two for four with a run and two RBIs. Right fielder Katie Miller wasn’t far behind, going two for four with two runs and one RBI.
Columbus will return to action tomorrow when they host Lone Tree. New London-Winfield-Mt. Union will also play tomorrow night as the Tigers host Central Lee.