Lady Bulldogs Notch Two Wins

By Clint Cox

The Marianna Lady Bulldogs captured two wins this past week over two of their Jackson County rivals and improved to 9-4 on the season. On Tuesday night the Lady Bulldogs hosted Cottondale and came away with a 11-1 win over the Lady Hornets. Cottondale took an early lead as they posted a run in their first at bat. Selentia Pittman singled and then later scored on a fielder’s choice by Liz Krauser. Marianna quickly erased the Cottondale lead as Sam Smith led off with a single and Allison Hutton reached on an error. Smith came home to tie the game on a fielder’s choice by Krista Griffin. Marianna took the lead when Hutton scored on a RBI single by Caycee Griffin.
Marianna added three more runs in the second inning as Taylor Smith was hit by a pitch. Sam Smith reached on a bunt single and after a double steal, Taylor Smith came home on an infield single by Hutton. Krista Griffin then ripped a 2 RBI single to score Sam Smith and Hutton. More damage was done in the third inning as Jana Hinson drew a walk, Meagan Gardner singled and Taylor Smith reached on fielder’s choice. With the bases loaded Hali Stout’s 2 RBI single to right field scored Hinson and Gardner to make it a 7-1 game. A bunt by Hutton resulted in a throwing error that allowed two more runs to score. Jennifer Creamer stroked a shot down the left field line to score Hutton and then Creamer scored on a RBI double from Krista Griffin to give Marianna an 11-1 lead. That lead held and the game was called the following inning.
On Saturday the Lady Bulldogs traveled to Sneads to take on the Lady Pirates. Sneads was coming off a 2-0 district win over Blountstown and sent Alisha Edenfield into the pitcher’s circle. Marianna countered with Hali Stout and the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead as Caycee Griffin stroked a 3 run home run in the first inning. Sneads countered in the bottom of the inning as Kayla Kelly came up with a 2 RBI double to score Samantha Culpepper and Amber. Marianna increased their lead in the third inning as Taylor Smith’s RBI single scored Griffin to make it a 4-2 game. But the Lady Pirates came right back in the bottom of the inning as Karissa Childs led off with a walk and Edenfield singled. Culpepper then took one deep over the right field fence to bring home 3 runs and give Sneads a 5-4 lead after three innings.
Marianna began to heat up in the fourth inning as they got singles from Allison Hutton and Jennifer Creamer. Krista Griffin’s RBI single scored Hutton and Caycee Griffin’s RBI single scored Creamer. Krista Griffin managed to score on a wild pitch and when the inning was over Marianna had reclaimed the lead at 7-5. Marianna added their last run in the final inning as Meagan Gardner scored on a RBI double from Smith to close the game out at 8-5 in Marianna’s favor.