Published: May 14, 2008 04:09 pm            

Freshman delivers game-winner as Southern rallies to beat Berea

BEREA — An unlikely hero provided the biggest hit as Madison Southern rallied late to pick up an emotional victory Tuesday on Senior Day.

Lyndsey Johnson, a freshman designated player, ripped a two-run walk-off single as the Lady Eagles (10-16) stunned cross-town rival Berea (11-13), 3-2. Southern had just two hits through the first six innings, but the strung together three straight singles to claim a dramatic victory.

“I just knew that if a made an out that coach (Brian) Foley would be very upset and so would everyone else,” Johnson said.

Mia Todd started the game-winning rally with a bloop single up the first-base line. Casey Boggs followed with a bunt single and both runners moved up a base after a Lady Pirate miscue.

Johnson, making just her second plate appearance of the game after being inserted for Mary Mullins, drilled a line drive to left that just fell out of the reach of a Berea outfielder.

“That’s the way she can hit every time if she does her mechanics right,” Foley said of Johnson.

Shelby Renzenbrink started for Berea and was outstanding, until the final inning. The right-hander struck out 10 and had Southern’s hitters off balance for most of the game.

Senior Nikki Jeck scored the Lady Eagles’ first run in the fourth inning after reaching on a bunt single. The second baseman advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on an error.

Renzenbrink bounced back to retire the next seven batters before allowing another bunt single to Jeck in the sixth.

“She pitched a heck of a game and hats off to Berea,” Foley said of Renzenbrink. “In past years, it was like, ‘Oh well, we are playing Berea.’ But, our coaching staff knew this is a better team than we are used to playing. I knew it was going to be a hard-fought game.”

Berea jumped out to a quick lead. Sarah Haycraft lined the first pitch of the game into center, then Kayla Hurst drew a walk off Southern starter Jackie Young. Brittany Hogg and Kayla Paynter later added RBI singles.

“In the top of the first inning, I thought we were in trouble,” Foley said.

Young rebounded from that rough start to allow just four more hits. She struck out five and worked out of a jam in the seventh. Sarah Thomas singled and advanced to third, but with two outs Young got Holly Gatliff to fly out to center to end the threat.

“The one thing I was really pleased with is that we didn’t quit,” Foley said. “We very easily could have gone three batters up and three batters down and gone home with a 2-1 loss. I’m proud of them for getting the job done when they needed to get it done.”

Haycraft, Thomas and Paynter each had two hits for Berea.

Southern returns to action Thursday at Frankfort, while the Lady Pirates return home Thursday to take on East Jessamine.

        

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