Lady Skins outlast HMS

The Cumberland Lady Skins improved to 3-0 in the Southeast Kentucky Middle School Fast Pitch Softball Conference with a 7-4 win at Harlan.

The Lady Skins scored two runs in the top of the second. Regan Caudill drew a walk. Taylor Johnson then had an infield single. Caudill and Johnson were able to advance and later score on wild pitches to give Cumberland the lead.

The Lady Dragons got one run back in their half of the second, when Madison Overbay singled and later scored on a wild pitch. Kacie Russell relieved Cumberland starting pitcher Hayley Blakley with two outs in the second and bases full of Lady Dragons.

Russell recorded a strikeout to end the threat. Neither team could generate any offense until the fifth inning, when Cumberland exploded for five runs.

Blakley led off the inning with a double to deep left and was later forced home on a bases loaded walk as Russell, Autumn Dunaway, Caudill, Taylor Johnson all walked. Shawnee Cress followed with an infield single knocking in Johnson. Hannah Johnson then lined out to first and Cress was doubled off for the second out. Nikki Creech and Lainey Cox followed with walks to reload the bases, but Blakley lined out to centerfield to end the threat.

Harlan was able to push in three in the bottom of the fifth. Jesse Cochran walked and Ashley Overbay reached on a error. Both players advanced on a passed ball. Cochran scored on a ground ball to shortstop. Mckenzie King followed with double to left that plated overbay. King later scored on another Cumberland error. Russell closed the the game with a strikeout.

Blakley doubled to pace Cumberland at the plate. Cress and Taylor Johnson each added a single.

King and Madison Overbay each had a single to lead Harlan.

Blakley struck out one batter and gave up one his in 1.2 innings in the start. Russell struck out seven batters, while giving up one hit in 3.1 innings.

Cumberland (3-0) returns to action Saturday at home against Knox County at 4 p.m.