Article and photos by T Ray Henry
The Marshall High School softball team traveled on the road to Robinson City Park to take on the Robinson High School Lady Maroons in a non-conference game on Tuesday, March 31st. Marshall came into the game with a record of 4-0, while Robinson came in with a record of 3-2.
Kyla Gustafson started the game in the circle for the Lions against Robinson’s ace Eva Hermann, who is signed to pitch next year at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO. With a pitchers’ duel expected by both sides of the diamond, scoring runs would prove to be critical to the game’s outcome.
After two scoreless innings, Marshall broke through in the top of the third. Lynn Welborn led off the inning with a single laced to center field. After Welborn stole second base, Lauren English laid down a bunt for a single as Welborn advanced to third base. McKenzie Davis then stepped up to the plate and drove a single to left field that brought Welborn home to break the scoreless tie as Marshall took a 1-0 lead.
With the Lions playing solid defense behind an excellent pitching performance by Kyla Gustafson, the Big Red scored an important insurance run in the top of the fourth. Gustafson led off the inning by smashing a pitch to the left field fence for a double. Caitlyn Hilliard then gave herself up as she bunted Gustafson over to third. With one out in the inning, Lilly Nickles bunted a pitch into a perfect spot where nobody in the Robinson infield was near. Nickles raced to first base for a single as Gustafson came home to make it 2-0 in favor of Marshall.
Taking a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth, Kyla Gustafson allowed just one hit the rest of the way, and during the entire ballgame, Robinson did not advance a runner beyond second base as Gus struck out a total of 13 Lady Maroons in her seven innings of work as Marshall defeated Robinson 2-0. Gus gave up only 3 hits in the win. In the three games she has pitched so far in the season, Gustafson has a record of 3-0 with 48 strikeouts while allowing only 2 earned runs. She currently maintains an ERA of 0.44.
Lilly Nickles led the Lions offense with two hits (single, double) and one run batted in. Lynn Welborn (run scored, stolen base), Lauren English, McKenzie Davis (RBI), Avery Cornwell, Klaire York, Kyla Gustafson (run scored), and Caitlyn Hilliard each had a base hit.
After the game, Marshall head coach Ryan McGuire said, “Our defense played solid and Kyla Gustafson pitched marvelously. She didn’t allow a Robinson baserunner past second base in the entire game. Lauren English does so much at third base to take away the bunt, and if an opponent tries to move a runner like they tried today, Lauren is so fast she keeps making great plays for us. Our bunt game is vastly improving. In the fourth, Caitlyn Hilliard moved Gus over to third with a nice sacrifice bunt, then Lilly Nickles placed a perfect bunt into no-man’s land that brought home an important insurance run. That was a big moment in the game because we just didn’t get the big hit. Playing close games like this one and the ones earlier in the season (Oakwood and Flora) will help us in the long run getting used to being in a tight, close ballgame.
The JV innings played before the varsity game gave us some good experience, especially for Lilly Nickles pitching for the first time this season and Mollie Kent catching for the first time. The bats were active from the get-go by scoring two runs in the first inning, so I am proud of the way they are all improving every day. Playing against an opponent is a better experience than practices, because they need to gain experience in game situations. Overall, it was a very good day for all of our players.”
Marshall (6-0) plays its next game this Thursday afternoon at Effingham. The game versus the Flaming Hearts is scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM.
Lauren English bunts safely for a single against Robinson
Kyla Gustafson struck out 13 Robinson batters while not allowing a run in Marshall's 2-0 win
McKenzie Davis brought home Marshall's first run of the game aganst Robinson with a single to left field
Caitlyn Hilliard (7) drives the pitch up the middle against Robinson
