Riley Long, Motlow sophomore pitcher (File Photo by Jeff Reed Photography).
Sophomore Riley Long pitched a complete-game shutout and Aubrey Crowell and McKenzie Jo Anderson hit home runs as the Motlow Lady Bucks beat Roane State 10-0 Saturday afternoon to win three out of four games over the weekend against their Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA) rival.
The Lady Bucks (14-14, 7-9) have won nine of their previous 10 games heading into this weekend’s home series against TCCAA opponent Volunteer State. The Lady Bucks and Lady Pioneers will begin their four-game series Friday at 1 p.m. and conclude it Saturday at noon. Admission is free to all Motlow athletic events.
Motlow beat Roane State 1-0 in Friday’s opening game before dropping the second game 9-6. The Lady Bucks came back strong on Saturday, winning the opener 4-3 before clinching the series with their final-game shutout.
Long combined with Cameron Pearson in the circle during Friday’s opener to allow only five hits while striking out eight Lady Raider batters. Motlow managed seven hits but could only plate one run when Ashton Watkins drove in Caroline Abernethy with a fifth inning triple.
Game two featured a pair of controversial calls, neither of which went Motlow’s way. The Lady Bucks led 6-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh before the home team scored twice and sent the game into extra innings. Long took the loss after relieving Pearson in the third inning. Summer Carter led Motlow’s offense with three hits, while Abernethy drove in a pair of runs.
The Lady Bucks had a two-run homer wiped off the scoreboard in the eighth after Lauren Hasty drove one over the fence. Umpires ruled the Lady Bucks celebrated illegally by stepping onto the field of play before Hasty crossed home plate.
Saturday’s first game was a tight battle that Motlow won 4-3. Pearson went the first five innings in the circle with Long pitching the final two. They combined to scatter eight hits and allow only two earned runs. Abernethy and Watkins each had two hits and Taylor Wolaver hit her second home run of the season.
The series finale went all Motlow’s way, led by Long who was spectacular in the circle by striking out two and not allowing a walk. Crowell and Anderson each had three RBI, with Crowell hitting her second homer of the season and Anderson her first.
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