FC drops two decisions in West Lincoln tourney

Franklin County’s varsity softball team dropped back-to-back, non-district decisions on Saturday, April 1 while taking part in a weekend tournament at West Lincoln — falling to Loyd Star, 15-0, in the early afternoon contest and losing 13-6 to Enterprise in the follow-up affair.

The Lady Bulldogs saw their season mark settle at 9-7 overall with FC also currently 4-1 in Class 7-3A regional play on the 2023 fast-pitch season.

Franklin County has downed district foes Port Gibson and Hazlehurst twice during the campaign and dropped a 21-1 decision to Wesson on March 7.

The Lady Dawgs must play Wesson again and Tylertown twice before the end of the season.

ENTERPRISE 13, FC 6

The Lady Bulldogs clubbed six hits and committed six errors in falling to Enterprise, 13-6, in the second tourney game as the Lady Yellow Jackets accounted for 10 hits and recorded a lone error in the outing.

Enterprise scored four runs each in the top of the first and third innings and five in the second while Franklin County plated one each in the first and third and four in the second.

FC’s Jhalayah Tillman was 2-of-3 at the plate — with a single and double — and a ground out against Enterprise. She scored a run and had an RBI.

Amberly Wallace, Indayshia Morgan and Marianna Thomas were all 1-of-2 with Wallace and Morgan connecting on a single each and Thomas pounding a triple. The trio scored once each and Thomas paced her team with three RBI.

Katherine Romero finished her day 1-of-1 in terms of hitting with a single, two runs scored and a walk.

Marlee Tindle, Karlee Wallace and Greyonne Queen all went 0-of-2 with Tindle grounding and flying out, Karlee Wallace, striking and grounding out and Queen grounding out twice with an RBI.

Sadye Scott was 0-of-3 in grounding out twice and hitting into a fielder’s choice.

In the bottom of the first, Tillman recorded a lead-off double and scored for the Lady Dawgs.

In the second with one out, Romero drew a walk, Amberly Wallace hit a fielder’s choice and Morgan singled to load the bags before Thomas dinged a triple that scored all three baserunners.

Romero and Amberly Wallace collected back-to-back, two-out singles in the bottom of the third with Romero scoring on an Enterprise error.

Franklin County left two runners stranded in the contest.

Karlee Wallace and Tillman split time in the pitcher’s circle for the Lady Dawgs with each hurler facing 17 Lady Yellow Jackets’ batters.

Karlee Wallace, in one-and-a-third innings, was tagged for nine runs (three of those earned) on four hits with three walks and a strikeout. Tillman worked two-and-two-thirds innings and gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out one.

Karlee Wallace’s pitch-to-strikes ratio was 66-36 (54.5 percent) and Tillman’s ratio was 47-24 (51.06 percent).

LOYD STAR 15, FC 0

Franklin County got no hits and no runs and saw six batters go down on strikes in its first tourney game against Loyd Star on Saturday.

On the other hand, the Lady Hornets, who committed two errors, plated six runs in the bottom of the first, eight in the second and one more in the third to claim the 15-0 win.

While 0-of-1 in the game, Tillman was the lone Lady Bulldog to actually touch a bag after reaching on an error in the top of the first inning.

Karlee Wallace was 0-of-2 in flying and striking out against Loyd Star. Scott, Queen, Amberly Wallace, Morgan and Lauren McCaa were all 0-of-1 with a strike out each.

Thomas and Romero were both 0-of-1 after grounding out.

Karlee Wallace went the distance as pitcher for Franklin County and surrendered 15 runs (12 of those earned) on 13 Loyd Star hits.

She issued five walks and struck out one Lady Hornet at the plate.

Her pitch-to-strike ratio — in facing 28 batters — was 89-49 (55.05 percent).

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UPCOMING GAMES

On Monday, April 10, the Lady Dawgs will face Tylertown in a double-header district showdown in Meadville.

The Tuesday, March 28 contest between the teams at Tylertown was rained out and will be made up next week.

The April 10 contest will also be the Lady Dawgs’ annual “Senior Night” observance.

On Thursday, April 13, Franklin County is scheduled to travel to battle Wesson before returning home the following day to face off against Brookhaven.

The Lady Bulldogs will then travel to South Pike on Monday, April 17 and will host Bogue Chitto on Tuesday, April 18 to close out the regular softball season.