George Washington’s wicked week took a turn for the better Thursday.
Faith Tetrick and Kaitlyn Swisher each went 4 for 4, Addie Armstrong drove in five runs, and freshman pitcher McKinzee Hinkley was unflappable as the Patriots picked up a 13-2 revenge victory at South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
GW (15-7) burst out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first and kept right on rolling, finishing with 15 hits. Hinkley, meanwhile, scattered eight hits, striking out four and walking only one.
“I cannot say enough about my freshman pitcher,†GW coach Stacy Hobbs said of Hinkley. “She pitched her butt off. She hit spots. She was tough.â€
One of Swisher’s four hits was a triple, and she scored four times. Tetrick drove in four runs and three other Patriots offered up a pair of hits — Armstrong, Tylie Barton and Nat Tomblin.
Thursday’s performance allowed GW to shrug off losses in its first two games this week — 16-3 to Cabell Midland and 10-1 to St. Albans. It also avenged an 8-4 March 18 loss to SC.
“It’s a new season,†Hobbs said. “We turned the page to a new season today.
“Today, we executed in all facets of the game. That’s what we did. We executed what we needed to do. We played well.â€
GW was so on point that four times it dropped down bunts with the idea of sacrificing lead runners, but the bunts were so well-placed that the Patriots beat them out for singles.
“We were just executing,†Hobbs said, “trying to move runners. We did well at executing today.â€
South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä (4-10) didn’t go quietly, though, as it never had a 1-2-3 inning at the plate.
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In the first, the Black Eagles had second and third with none out and loaded the bases with two out, but failed to score. GW shortstop Addisyn Kelly scooped up a grounder and threw to Tetrick at home to cut down one runner in the midst of the would-be rally.
“We did [waste opportunities] — that’s part of the game,†Black Eagles assistant coach J.T. Erby said. “You don’t cash in your opportunities, and that’s what happens. They definitely outplayed us today.â€
Two of GW’s five first-inning runs were unearned as SC committed three errors.
“We’ve got a few freshmen playing, and a few people a little bit out of position,†Erby said. “We’ve worked on that in practice, and we’ve got to continue to execute. We’re a work in progress.â€
It marked the sixth straight loss for the Black Eagles, but all of those opponents hold winning records and were a combined 65-24 starting play on Thursday.
“We’re trying to get better every day,†Erby said. “We’re still going for the same goal — to try and win sectionals and go to regionals, and go from there.â€
Caraline Dunn and Alexandria Hill each went 2 for 3 for South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. Dunn and Jamesyn Laws provided run-scoring doubles for the Black Eagles.
GEORGE WASHINGTON 510 43 — 13 15 0
SOUTH CHARLESTON 011 00 — 2 8 4
Hinkley and Tetrick; Hill and Frye.
Hitting — (GW) Barton 2-4; Swisher 4-4, 3B, RBI; Armstrong 2-3, 2B, 5 RBI; Tetrick 4-4, 4 RBI; Tomblin 2-4, 2B. (SC) Dunn 2-3, 2B, RBI; Reidel 2B; Hill 2-3; Laws 2B, RBI.
