Knightettes use change-up and defense to beat De Soto

FARMINGTON — Four errors by the De Soto Lady Dragons and a debilitating change-up by Farmington pitcher Erin Littrell gave the Knightettes the upper hand for a 5-2 win on Monday.

Littrell struck out eight De Soto batters with five going down to a two-strike change-up that had the Lady Dragons swinging at air instead of the ball.

Farmington (15-8) played solid defense in making every play of the game accurately with no errors, but they took advantage of four made by the Lady Dragons.

Farmington’s first baseman Taylor Bene made a defensive gem by turning in an unassisted double play in the sixth inning. Pulling down a short pop fly near the base, Bene was able to beat the runner back to the bag for the second out.

Allie Trask started the scoring action with a lead-off base hit in the first inning. Trask stole second and advanced to third on a ground ball. A dropped fly ball hit by Littrell in the infield allowed Trask to score, and a passed ball let Littrell cross home plate shortly after Trask.

The Knightettes would double their lead in the bottom of the third. Senior Mikaela Westbrook celebrated the team’s Senior Night with a double and Natalie Hoehn placed two runners in scoring position with a single and a stolen base. Taylor Bene’s single scored both runners.

Littrell owned the Lady Dragons line-up in their first go-around with five strike-outs. A lead-off single in the fourth inning by DeeDee Peters was De Soto’s first hit, but it opened the floodgate.

De Soto (11-13) put together four singles in the inning with Caitlin Polley’s single driving in Peters, and Hailey Brown and Kelsey Landholt singles refilling the bases. Littrell struck out the next two with her hit-defying change-up to get out of the inning. 

The Lady Dragons scored their last run in the fifth inning. A two-out single by Peters (2-2) was rewarded by a double off the bat of Chelsey King. Farmington’s defense stepped up as Trask made a perfect relay from right fielder Rachel Porter to Hoehn at third, catching King trying to extend her double an extra base.

With only a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, the Knightettes added an insurance run with Porter drawing a lead-off walk. Freshman Whitney Holmes replaced Porter at first and promptly stole second base, and eventually scored on an errant throw to third. 

Farmington will play next on Thursday at home in their  district Tournament.

 De Soto  000 110 0 – 2  7  4

Farmington  202 001 x – 5  6  0

WP- Littrell 7i 2r 7h 8k 1bb.

Hitting:

De Soto – Peters 2-2, Brown 2-3, King 1-3, Polley 1-3, Landholt 1-3. 2b- King.

Farmington – Westbrook 2-3, Trask 2-4, Bene 1-2, Hoehn 1-2. 2b- Westbrook.