The Effingham Lady Hearts scored six runs over the final three innings Monday, but still came up short at Olney, dropping a 7-6 decision.
The Lady Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the first and added four more in the fifth to build a 7-1 lead.
Effingham pushed a single tally across in the sixth and then put together a strong rally in the seventh.
With one out, Raegan Boone singled for her third hit of the game. Jerzi Bierman followed with another base hit and Sidney Donaldson made it three singles in a row, driving in a run. Natalie Armstrong followed with a blast over the centerfield fence for a three-run homer to get the Lady Hearts within a run.
Mya Harvey then singled, but the final two batters were retired.
Armstrong pitched the first 4.1 innings and took the loss. She gave up seven hits and six runs, while walking two and striking out one. Saige Althoff pitched the rest of the way.
The Lady Hearts dipped to 20-10 on the season. They will play at home today (Tuesday) against Mt. Vernon.
The third time with a lead proved to be the charm for the Effingham Lady Hearts.
In Thursday’s first game, Effingham owned a 4-1 advantage, but didn’t score again and ultimately dropped a 5-4 decision in walk-off fashion.
In the nightcap, the Lady Hearts were on top 6-3, but again, couldn’t keep pushing runs across the plate and were defeated 17-7.
But Friday afternoon was a different story.
Effingham held a 7-3 lead early, but this time, continued to add on, scoring seven more runs over the final two innings.
That resulted in a 14-8 victory over the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs in the final game of the annual City Series.
St. Anthony clinched the championship plaque the day before after sweeping the doubleheader.
SAHS scored a run in the opening inning and added two more on a home run by Hailey Niebrugge in the second. But the third inning proved to be a game-changer for the Lady Hearts.
Saige Althoff singled, Raegan Boone reached on an error and Jerzi Bierman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Effingham then pushed four runs across the plate without getting a hit. Sydney Donaldson, Ryley Engel and Madi Kirk each drew bases-loaded walks, and Natalie Armstrong was hit by a pitch, also driving in a run.
The Effingham Lady Hearts scored 22 runs and allowed only one, en route to a convincing doubleheader sweep Wednesday at home against Taylorville.
Natalie Armstrong threw a complete-game two-hitter in the opener and Sidney Donaldson drove in three runs, helping the Lady Hearts post a 9-0 decision.
In the nightcap, Effingham scored in every inning, nine different players got at least one hit and Saige Althoff turned in a strong pitching performance. The result was a 13-1 win.
Armstrong walked two and struck out 10 in the first game. Her teammates provided all the support she needed in the first inning.
After just three batters, two runs had already scored. Raegan Boone and Jerzi Bierman both singled and then scored on a double by Donaldson. Ryley Engel capped the three-run frame with a two-out RBI single.
The Lady Hearts scored two runs in the third, fifth and sixth. They banged out 10 hits, including a solo home run by Mya Harvey in the fifth.
The Effingham Lady Hearts played two games Friday afternoon and came away with a split.
Gieah Schlanser’s two-out RBI single gave the Lady Hearts a walk-off 3-2 win in nine innings over Flora in the first game.
In the nightcap, Pinckneyville broke a tie with a four-run fifth, en route to a 9-4 decision.
The opener was a pitching dual between Effingham Saige Althoff and Flora’s Halle Kitley.
The Lady Wolves took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Lady Hearts tied it up in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Ryley Engel reached on an error and was able to make it to second base. Madi Kirk’s ground ball was then misplayed, allowing Engel to race home with the tying run.
Flora got two of its three hits in the ninth and pushed across the go-ahead run. But once again, the Lady Hearts staged a rally – and once again – after the first two batters had been retired. Mya Harvey doubled and scored when Engel singled. On the throw home, Engel went to second, and then scored when Schlanser delivered the game-winning hit.
Althoff allowed only three hits and two runs, while walking five and striking out six. Kitley gave up five hits and three runs. She didn’t walk a batter, but struck out 18 while throwing 141 pitches.
The second game was tied 4-4 before Pinckneyville pushed four runs across in the fifth to take control.
Effingham scored a single tally in the third. Raegan Boone singled, Jerzi Bierman followed with a double and Boone came home on a ground out by Sidney Donaldson.
After Pinckneyville took a 4-1 lead, the Lady Hearts put together a three-run fourth to tie it. Harvey doubled and Engel and Kirk walked to load the bases. With two outs, Boone delivered an RBI single. The next two runs scored on an error and a wild pitch.
Effingham managed only three walks the rest of the way.
The Lady Hearts are now 19-7. They will return to action Tuesday at Teutopolis.
The Effingham Lady Hearts scored the final five runs of the game to post an 8-6 victory over Robinson and complete a 3-0 sweep of the Robinson Invitational on Saturday.
Effingham also defeated Lawrenceville 4-1 and Fairfield 6-0.
The Robinson game was a back-and-forth contest. The Lady Hearts trailed 2-0 and 6-3 before scoring three runs in the fifth to tie it and two in the sixth to pull out the victory.
In the third, Madi Kirk walked, stole second and third base and scored when Raegan Boone hit into a fielder’s choice. Jerzi Bierman then walked, both runners moved up on a wild pitch and scored when Natalie Armstrong delivered a two-out, two-run double to put the Lady Hearts on top, 3-2.
Robinson scored four runs in the top of the fifth, capped by a three-run homer off the bat of Eva Brashear, to regain the lead, 6-3. But EHS responded in the bottom of the inning.
Boone led off with a double and raced home on an RBI double by Sidney Donaldson. Armstrong then came through again, this time blasting a two-run homer to knot the score at 6-6.
In the sixth, Kirk got a one-out single, stole second and scored on Boone’s RBI base hit. On the play at home and a follow-up throwing error, Boone ended up at third base. Bierman then lined a run-scoring single to account for the final run.
Armstrong, who relieved in the fifth, got credit for the win. She allowed five hits and four runs. Saige Althoff started and pitched the first four innings.
In the first game, Effingham used a pair of two-run innings and the strong pitching of Armstrong to get the 4-1 win over Lawrenceville.
Armstrong went the distance, giving up five hits and one unearned run. She walked one and struck out three.
The Lady Hearts got on the board in the bottom of the third. Althoff led off with a solo homer over the centerfield fence. With two outs, Bierman walked, sole second and came around to score on a throwing error by the Lawrenceville catcher.
In the sixth, leading 2-1, two runners reached base on errors and Mya Harvey delivered a two-out double to drive both of them in.
Althoff tossed a three-hit shutout against Fairfield. She only walked one and struck out eight in seven innings of work.
Bierman had an RBI single in the third and it remained a slim 1-0 lead until Effingham scored five times in the fifth to seize control.
Bria Beals singled, stole second and scored on a base hit by Boone. After Bierman reached on an error, Donaldson ripped a two-run triple. Harvey was hit by a pitch and Ryley Engel capped the inning with a two-RBI single.
The Lady Hearts, now 16-6, will play Monday at Breese Mater Dei.
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