Runs were not hard to come by for Independence in three of its four games last week.
In a doubleheader sweep of Hickory Flat last Tuesday, the Lady Wildcats scored a pair of 17-4 and 23-0 wins, before earning a 25-4 victory against Rosa Fort last Thursday. The week was soured a bit with a 23-2 loss to Center Hill last Friday, but IHS still finished the week with a 3-1 mark.
In the first game against Hickory Flat, the Lady Wildcats put up 13 runs in the top of the first inning, before the Lady Rebels responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Independence added another run in the top of the fourth and three more in the fifth inning, resulting in the run-rule win.
IHS finished the game with 14 base hits, led by a 3-for-5 effort from Kylie Daniel and two base hits apiece from Madysen Cathey and Irelynn Chambers. Cathey finished with a pair of doubles and Kamiyah Stephens also tripled.
Chambers pitched all five innings in the circle, earning six strikeouts against two walks and four earned runs.
In the finale against Hickory Flat, Independence plated a whopping 21 runs in the first inning and added two more in the second, resulting in the 23-0 run-rule win in just three innings.
Hits were not hard to come by for the Lady Wildcats, as IHS finished with 15 base hits. Cathey, Daniel and Stephens finished with three apiece, and Cathey once again led the way with a pair of doubles.
Daniel tripled in the win for the Lady Wildcats, while Stephens, Gabriella Ashworth, Haylee Clark and Lynna Wallace were each credited with a double of their own.
Once again, it was Chambers getting the win in the circle, collecting six strikeouts against three walks in the abbreviated no-hitter.
In the Region 2-3A victory against Rosa Fort, Independence slowly built a lead against the Lady Lions, scoring a run in the first inning and five more in the second. With a 6-0 advantage, the Lady Wildcats tacked on five more in the top of the third and 14 in the fourth, earning the run-rule win in four innings.
Rosa Fort scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the third, but the Lady Lions only got one base hit. Meanwhile, the Lady Wildcats finished with 17 base hits, despite three errors.
Chambers, Daniel and Wallace led the charge for Independence, finishing with three base hits each. Additionally, Stephens hit a triple and a home run, while Ashworth, Daniel, Wallace and Kaitlyn Kitchens finished with doubles.
Chambers also struck out seven batters against seven walks in four complete innings in the circle.
Unfortunately, the Lady Wildcats were unable to keep the same momentum against Class 6A foe Center Hill, surrendering 11 runs in the first inning to the Lady Mustangs. Independence did tack on a pair of runs in the first and second innings, but Center Hill added five in the second and seven more in the third, earning the three-inning run-rule.
Independence finished with seven base hits in the loss, led by a 2-for-2 effort from Stephens. Ashworth, Kitchens and April Bryok also accounted for a double each.
Now 6-5 on the season, the Lady Wildcats will take on Rosa Fort on Tuesday, April 1 in a Region 2-3A rematch.
