NORTH VERNON – Jennings County scored six unearned run while ending Bedford North Lawrence’s winning streak with a 7-3 victory during high school softball action on Thursday.
The Panthers (10-7 overall, 4-1 in the Hoosier Hills Conference) broke loose for six runs in the second while topping the Stars (15-8, 2-2), who suffered a loss for the first time in five games.
Jennings took advantage of two BNL errors in the decisive frame. With two outs, Riley Byford singled in a run. After Claire Hack was intentionally walked to load the bases, Maycie Ward singled to left for a 3-0 lead, Arian Day launched a bases-clearing double to center, and Emma Clapp clobbered a RBI triple to right for a 7-0 lead.
”We just couldn’t get that third out,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert. “There are nights like that. We got ourselves in hole, and that makes it tough.”
BNL got on the board in the third when Tori Nikirk singled and Kendall Graves smashed a two-run home run to center. In the fourth, Sara Williams reached on an infield single, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
Nikirk and Williams had two hits each for BNL.
”We were late to get started and never got in a groove,” Gilbert said. “We never got comfortable. It’s disappointing. It’s a loss and we have to move on. We have to learn from our mistakes.”
The Stars will host Bloomington North on Friday.
