Don Swanson went to make a change.
One pitch into the decisive at-bat of Tellico Plains’ seventh win of the season, Swanson wanted to give host Sweetwater a different look.
Kadence Moses stepped in for a stellar Meredith Linder, holding off Sweetwater’s valiant surge on April 11 with a bases-loaded strikeout in a 4-1 Lady Bears’ win.
Tellico exploded for four runs in one inning. The Lady Bears (7-4) fell into line offensively after being held off for four innings.
“We just had a drab first three or four innings trying to get the timing down. We finally got tuned in a little bit,” Swanson said.
Sweetwater (3-4) matched with their guests offensively. The Lady Wildcats’ offense — which has been trying to come alive in recent games — posted up seven hits, including a flurry with its back against the wall.
Kylie Baylog singled to start the frame before Danielle Jones got on board with two outs. Lilly Woodruff knocked an influential double into left field, scoring Baylog and pushing Jones to third.
The tying run in Maddy Baylog was walked on five pitches, pushing Tori Thompson to the plate, who struck out despite a couple of good licks and a foul ball.
“She was right there. She was feeling it. An ⅛–of-an-inch in your swing there and you are walking it off,” Sweetwater coach Sarah Davies said. “We should not have been in that position to begin with. Bad baserunning and bad errors.”
After being held to five baserunners and two hits through four innings, Tellico opened things up offensively with four runs off four hits in the fifth.
Dana Harmon sparked the series with a single to left field before stealing second and advancing on an error that placed Taylor Rose at first.
“We fell in right behind (Harmon). We needed something to get us started,” Swanson said.
Bella Wright’s single loaded the bases with no outs, prompting Kadance Moses to push Harmon and Rose across home plate with a double.
Meya Keener quickly added to the lead, navigating a pitching change in three pitches with a two-RBI single to center field.
“It shows they are learning and they understand. You have to play all seven innings. Sometimes you are good right from the first to the seventh and sometimes it is three or four innings at the end,” Swanson said. “I tell them a win is a win. Sometimes they are ugly and sometimes they are pretty.”
The Lady Bears were primed to strike again, bringing on pinch runner Briley Joines, but Woodruff handled the spot forcing Kalli Yates-Matoy to pop out and striking out Jagger Ziglar and Addison Joines.
“We have been struggling in different aspects. We played them so well,” Davies said. “Everything was coming together. They strung together a couple hits and we had some silly errors
“To end the game, we were right there but could not squeak it out. Errors and bad baserunning … it cost us.”
Tellico was held to one hit and one runner past first following the fifth inning.
“It was one of those things that is hard. We have been down so much all year it is hard to come back, but I think we responded well,” Davies added. “I told them at the end that I was proud of their fight.”
The Lady Wildcats found baserunners in the middle innings, but could not capitalize on the spots.
Maddy Baylog and Thompson singled in succession, but a fielder’s choice and a strikeout ended the frame.
One inning later, Ella Morgan singled and Andrea Jones pushed her to third base with a double, but a groundout at short halted things.
Linder struck out six batters in her 6.2 inning performance, allowing one earned run and seven hits, hitting her spots and finding success with her drop ball.
“She was a whole lot better. She did a really good job. If she can stay in that mode we will be fine,” Swanson said. “She was a little bit nervous the other day against Midway and it got to her a little bit. She had a little bit of maturity to her today.”
Moses’ cameo pulled her from third and changed the look for Sweetwater’s batters in the final effort of the night.
Morgan started the contest — her second start of the season and the week — striking out five batters before Woodruff sat down four in three innings.
“We struggled when we played McMinn Central. They were really on Lilly, but I did not pull her. I was trying to get her some confidence but I did the opposite,” Davies said. “I think Ella has proven herself. We looked at her earlier this week at Polk and she pitched great. And Lilly came in and was smoking the ball.
“I think that combination is going to work; that is a tough combo. In 20 years of coaching, it has never taken me long to find a combination that works.”
Woodruff has pitched 82% of Sweetwater’s innings this season, but Morgan has tossed 73% of this week.
“That is what preseason is for — it does not matter til the tournament. Wins are fun but it does not matter until the tournament. We have to find that combination,” Davies added. “We are still ironing it out, but we are getting closer.”
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