CULLMAN – The bitter, biting cold did nothing to slow down the Cullman Lady Bearcats; Olivia Schwaiger was red hot in the circle, pitching a perfect four-inning game. The Lady ‘Cats backed her up at the plate, belting four home runs on their way to a 17-0 drumming of the Oakman Lady Wildcats.
After Schwaiger retired the first three Oakman hitters, Sierra Easterwood immediately put the Lady ‘Cats on top when she blasted a deep shot that landed over the right centerfield fence for the first of her two home runs. Bailey Swann and Hannah Morton both reached base with two outs, bringing Schwaiger to the dish. She promptly smashed a hot shot to shortstop that was mishandled, allowing her to reach base and for Swann to come home to score. This brought Kennedy Wren to the plate with a chance to add to the lead, which she did. She roped what looked to be a rise ball into left center to score Morton and Schwaiger to make the score 5-0.
Following another three up, three down, Cullman went right back to work. Swann lead off the inning with a bunt single and took second on a wild pitch. With one out, Morton singled and took second when the Oakman defense was not paying attention, putting runners at second and third with one out. The next Lady ‘Cat hitter fouled out to bring Schwaiger up to bat. She helped her own cause by roping a two RBI double to the outfield to make the score 7-0. Wren singled later in the inning, bringing home Schwaiger and putting the Lady Cats in command, 8-0.
Cullman added a single run in the third on an RBI single by McKenzie Burks, but the real damage came in the fourth when the Lady ‘Cats plated nine. Tiffani Schwaiger got the merry-go-round started with a lead-off single. Olivia Schwaiger followed with a booming two-run home run to make the score 11-0. Sydney Holder was next up and she responded with a single. Hanna Brook McPherson then stepped into the batter’s box and she also singled, her first varsity hit, much to the delight of the Cullman faithful.
After two quick outs, Easterwood came to the plate and immediately crushed a three-run homer for her second four bagger of the game to make the score 14-0. Burks and Morton reached on a walk and a double respectively, bringing Tiffani Schwaiger to the dish where she deposited the ball over the right centerfield fence for a three-run homer and ended the game in the fourth via the mercy rule.
Final score: Cullman 17, Oakman 0.
Cullman will look to keep the momentum rolling as they welcome the Brewer Lady Patriots to town Friday afternoon.
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