In early-season softball action, the Cottey Comets dropped both games of a doubleheader in Sedalia Saturday against State Fair Community College. Cottey was edged 7-5 in the opener, and 10-4 in the nightcap. <\/p>\n
Cottey returned to the diamond Monday for a twinbill in Springfield against Evangel University. Cottey (4-6) won the first contest 12-8, but was blanked 17-0 in the second game. <\/p>\n
State Fair <\/p>\n
In the opener Cottey took a lead into the late innings as starting pitcher Marisa Jervis tossed six innings of no-hit ball. After tying the game, State Fair broke out with five funs in the seventh, powered by a dramatic walk-off grand slam. <\/p>\n
\"Marisa pitched extremely well but ran out of gas at the end,\" Comets head coach Mark Skapin said. <\/p>\n
For Cottey at the plate, Izzy Milligan was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Meanwhile, Lily Brockus and Hannah Bridges added home runs for the Comets. <\/p>\n
Nightcap <\/p>\n
State Fair rode its late game momentum into the nightcap, plating four runs in the first inning followed by a three-spot in the second to seize control. <\/p>\n
\"Wet tried to claw our way back but couldn't quite get there,\" Skapin said. <\/p>\n
Milligan, who went 2-for-4 at the dish, also started in the circle, taking her first loss of the season. Bridges stayed hot at the plate, blasting her second round-tripper on the day. <\/p>\n
Evangel contests <\/p>\n
Jervis took the circle for the opener in Springfield, as Cottey trailed 6-1 through two innings of play. The Comets then began to mount a comeback, plating three runs in the third and two in the fourth. Evangel responded with a pair of runs in fourth to go in front 8-5. <\/p>\n
In the fifth, Cottey tacked on two runs via base knocks from Breanna Kelley and Brockus to trim the lead to 8-7. <\/p>\n
As the game wore on, Jervis got stronger, holding the Evangel bats in check. <\/p>\n
A bases loaded pinch hit courtesy of Cottey's Dee Finley scored two runs in the sixth, while shifting the momentum back in the Comets favor, as they prevailed 12-8. <\/p>\n
Bridges remained sizzling at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs scored, two steals and two walks. Milligan was 4-for-5 with four runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base; while Kelley was 3-for-5 with three RBIs. <\/p>\n
In the 17-0 contest, Evangel led 9-0 after two innings of play, as Milligan was saddled with the loss. <\/p>\n
The Comets are idle until March 18, when they travel to St. Louis for a Region 16 matchup with the Lady Archers. \"We hope to work over spring break and return ready for the remainder of the season,\" Skapin said. <\/p>\n
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Comets drop pair to State Fair, split with Evangel - Nevada Herald<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In early-season softball action, the Cottey Comets dropped both games of a doubleheader in Sedalia Saturday against State Fair Community College. Cottey was edged 7-5 in the opener, and 10-4 in the nightcap. Continue reading