The Lady Tigers softball team saw action on Tuesday night as they took on the first-place ranked Upperman Lady Bees in an overtime thriller. The Lady Tigers lost 7-6 in eight innings.
In the top of the first, the Lady Tigers were on the defense and Lauren “Smiley” Colwell was at the mound to pitch. The first batter up slapped in a single that just made it past second baseman Annieka Norton. The second batter would ground out on a fielder’s choice and advanced the runner to second. The third batter hit a high fly ball that would drop in the glove of short stop Brooke Hutchings.
In the bottom of the first, Alex Meadows led the Lady Tigers off with a fly out to left field. Danielle Tyson followed by grounding out to first base. Loren Cripps made it to first base on a walk and Tiffini Hendrixson ended the inning being struck out.
In the top of the second, the first batter hit a line drive that was snagged out of the air by Hutchings for out number one. The next batter singled down the third baseline. The next batter would blast a line drive back to the pitcher Colwell who would quickly throw it back to first for the double play.
In the bottom of the second, Hutchings was first up to bat and flew out to second. Taylor Monette was up next and knocked down a ground ball to third but was thrown out, Abbey Caldwell  reached first on a line drive to left field. Smiley was up to bat  next and blasted a line drive back to the pitcher that would strike her in the face. Smiley would single on the at bat and the Upperman pitcher would leave the game for medical treatment. Norton broke out of her slump with a single coming from a bunt and loaded the bases. Meadows was walked, forcing a run in. Tyson knocked in two RBIs on her single to right field. Cripps also drove in a run with a single down the third baseline. Hendrixson dropped a ball into left field good for an RBI single. Hutchings brought in a run with a single to third base, then the runner was caught stealing second.
In the top of the third, the first batter up would fly out to deep centerfield. The next batter also went to centerfield, but this time the ball was out the park, good for a homerun. The next batter reached first on an error for the Lady Tigers. The next batter dropped in a single to centerfield. The fifth batter of the inning blasted a ball deep to right field good for an RBI double. The next batter hit a high fly ball to left field that was caught for an out but the runner tagged up for the sac fly. The next batter ended the inning grounding out to first base.
In the bottom of the third, Monette led the team off with a fly ball to left field that would be fielded for an out. Caldwell was next up but was walked. Smiley reached first on a fielder’s choice and Caldwell was forced out at second. Norton was next up and would single up the alley. Meadows hit a ground ball to what would be the inning ending out to  third.
In the top of the fourth, the first batter reached first on an error. The second batter would be walked. The next batter belted a soaring fly ball that was fielded by Norton. Meadows would field the next out as she ran down a  fly ball to centerfield for out number two. The next batter singled to right field loading the bases. The next batter evened the score with a three run triple. The last batter flew out to left field.
In the bottom of the fourth, Tyson led off with a walk. Cripps followed with a single to centerfield. Hendrixson reached first on a fielder’s choice and Tyson was out at third. Hutchings was up again to bat and made it to first base on a error from Upperman. Monette followed with a fly out to the short stop. Caldwell would end the inning with a ground out to second.
In the top of the fifth, the first batter dropped in a single in centerfield. The next batter would perfectly execute a bunt, advancing the runner to second for the sacrifice out. Each of the two outs remaining would be fielded by Hutchings as she showed excellent awareness in each of her grabs.
In the bottom of the fifth Smiley was first up to bat and ground out back to the pitcher. Norton would line out to short stop. Meadows  blasted a deep ball in the outfield good for a double. Tyson would finish up the inning with a fly out to right field.
In the top of the sixth, Smiley’s first batter would ground out to second and be fielded for the easy out. The second batter singled to left field with a line drive. The next batter would fly out to right field with a diving catch from Caldwell. The next batter blasted a deep ball all the way to the fence but didn’t quit have enough on it as Cripps made the catch.
In the bottom of the sixth,  to everyone's disbelieve Upperman’s starting pitcher had returned to the game coming straight from the hospital after receiving eight stitches to the forehead. The pitcher showed no signs of decline as she made quick work of the Lady Tigers striking out both Hutchings and Monette and forcing Cripps to fly out to centerfield.
In the top of the seventh, the first batter hit a low line drive that was fielded for an out by Monette. The next batter flew out to right field. The next batter singled on an error in right field. The next batter was hit by the pitch and was awarded the base. The next batter laid down a bunt that was good for a single and also advancing the runners to third. The last batter would ground out to second. In the bottom of the seventh, Caldwell flew out back to the pitcher. Smiley was walked in her at bat. Norton could not bring in any runs as she would strike out. Meadows would end the inning as she was struck out swinging.
In the top of the eighth, the Bees proved to be clutch, as with two outs and a runner on first, the batter hit a ball deep to left field good for an RBI double, giving the Lady Bees their first lead of the game. The next batter would ground out to first.
Down only one run DeKalb had the chance for a walk-off finish. Tyson was up first but hit ground ball to second which was fielded for an easy out. Cripps was the next batter up and  made good contact with the ball, but it sailed too high, giving the outfield time to run the ball down for the second out. With two outs Hendrixson was up with no runners on base to try and tie the game up. No such luck as she was struck out and the game ended as the Lady Tigers lose by one.