Hailey Shankle shows the determination it took to strike out 15 batters in the Lady Warriors win over Piggott Monday afternoon. (Tribune photo/Dan Brawner) [Click to enlarge]

Hailey Shankle walked her first batter in the Lady Warriors' third game of the year against Piggott Monday at Lepanto. But of the next 21 who came to the plate in five innings, she fanned 15 of them to secure EPC's first win of the season, 3-2. The win was somewhat in question late, though, as Cara Pilgrim had to break a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth to gain the victory and put the Lady Warriors at 1-2 on the season.

"Hailey did an excellent job," said coach Sarah Jackson of her pitcher's effort/ "I couldn't have asked more of her. Plus we started to hit the ball better."

The Lady Mohawks' first baseman, French, opened the game by gaining a walk then made it to third on successive steals. She could get no further, though, as Shankle seated the next three batters, the last on three straight pitches.

Jordan Walling, batting second in the EPC order, got on first with an error on French. Then when clean-up hitter, catcher Becca Ross slid a base hit past French, Walling sailed the rest of the way for EPC's first run. The inning ended when French redeemed herself, somewhat, and snagged Whitlee Malone's pop fly for the inning's last out.

Nevertheless, the Lady Warriors enjoyed a 1-0 lead in a game where the hits, and runs, turned out to be hard to come by.

Shankle put the next three Lady Mohawks down with three Ks. EPC, however, didn't do a lot better in the bottom of the second as only Sabrina Benton gained base on a dropped third strike. Nothing came of it, though, as Madison McCorkle hit into a 1-3 play for the last out of the inning.

Shankle once again fanned the first two batters, but put the third, second baseman Brown on first with a base on balls. Brown then stole second and was in perfect position to score when Bransom, the Mohawks third baseman, sent the first of only two hits Piggott would have on the day over Benton's head at second. Quick play by Benton and the rest of the Lady Warrior defense allowed Brown to get no farther than third, though.

Getting her ninth strike-out of the game on the next batter, Shankle averted disaster and ended the inning.

Back at the top of the batting order, Pilgrim drew a walk to open the bottom of the third inning. She then went to second on a passed ball pitched to Walling. She then went to third when Walling hit into a 4-3 play. Shankle, next up, got one of the most solid Lady Warriors hits of the day when she sailed one right into the glove of Engle in right field for the inning's second out. The play sent Walling home for EPC's second run, however, 2-0. Ross grounded out moments later, but the Lady Warriors felt comfortable with the two run lead. Not for long, however.

Piggott centerfielder, Dennis, sent a 2-1 pitch over, appropriately, centerfielder Malone's head for a base hit. She then stole second and third before a throwing error sent her home for the Lady Mohawks first run of the day. After Shankle struck out the next batter, she gave up her second hit, a double by Engle which fell into the 8-9 hole. The next batter sacrificed her to third, but Shankle stepped up and closed out the inning with a final K.

Apparently enlivened by the run, Piggott sent the Lady Warriors quickly back on defense with a 1-3 play and two strikeouts to put the game into the fifth, and final, inning.

Shankle once again struck out the first two batters to bring up Brown in a last ditch attempt for Piggott. Shankle got her to 1-1, but she sent the third pitch down the right field line for a double. Bransom came up for her final at bat and errored her way all the way around to third on a 1-2 pitch, scoring Brown in the process.

She couldn't go in, though, as Grimes hit into a 4-3 play to end the top of the inning with the game knotted, 2-2.

The first two batters for the Lady Warriors, Benton and McCorkle got their bats on the ball, but hit into identical 4-3 plays to bring up Pilgrim for EPC's last chance in regulation. She quietly got on base with a walk, stole second and then went home when Walling got her only hit of the day, a slam over Brown at second to score Pilgrim and secure the win.

Shankle gave up two walks to go along with the three hits and two unearned runs as she gained the win.

Ross and Walling got the only hits of the day for the Lady Warriors, both resulting in RBIs. Walling also got her run and Pilgrim got two to give the Lady Warriors a 1-2 record.

Piggott 5, EPC 1

"I guess we were so excited about the win in the first game we just didn't play well," said Jackson of the second game in the double header.

The lady Mohawks scored their first run in the first inning and the other four in the third. All were unearned.

Only Pilgrim in the first inning managed to get a hit in the game, scoring later.

"The loss put us at 1-3 and 1-1 in conference play," concluded Jackson.