Alcovy softball coach Casey Bates said it coming in to the season. If the Lady Tigers were to be successful in 2008, it would come down to pitching and defense. So far, so good.
Alcovy defeated South Gwinnett 2-1 in its home opener Wednesday to pick up their fourth straight victory. Dallas Hardin tossed a complete game while striking out nine and Summer Kusch had two hits plus the game winner in the fifth inning.
"We came out and played a good team and we didn't give in," Bates said. "I wanted to play the better and bigger teams early on before we head into region play. Two things won it for us today, pitching and defense. Hitting is going to have to come through though for us."
After shrugging off an ailing back that forced her to miss her first start, Hardin pitched her second straight gem. Coming off a shutout in her first start at the Griffin Diamond Classic tournament on Saturday, Hardin scattered four hits over seven innings.
South Gwinnett struck first in the top of the first inning, taking an early 1-0 lead off two hits and an error. After yielding a leadoff single and a double, Hardin settled down to retire the next two batters.
The Lady Tigers wasted no time in their half of the inning. After Hardin and Melody Belcher drew back-to-back walks, Amber Melton hit into a fielder's choice. With runners at first and third, Johna Bagley singled home Alcovy's first run to tie the game 1-1 heading into the second.
From then on, Hardin's pitching and Alcovy's defense took over. The Lady Tigers cruised over the next four innings and played solid defense including a running catch by Belcher who crashed into the left filed fence in the third inning to prevent an extra base hit.
South Gwinnett retired the first two batters in the bottom of the fifth inning before Bagley lined a hard grounder off the pitcher to
reach fist. While the Comet's third baseman corralled the deflection, the first baseman dropped the throw. The mistake would prove costly as Alcovy's next batter, Summer Kusch, made the Comets pay with a line-drive double to the left field fence that plated Bagley.
"Summer Kusch, I don't know where that power came from today, she must have eaten her Wheaties this morning," Bates said. "She almost hit that one out. She's moving up the lineup and putting some power behind the ball which is what we need right now."
With the score 2-1, South Gwinnett threatened to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning. After Hardin walked the leadoff batter, the Comets moved the runner to third on a fielder's choice and a passed ball. With one out, Hardin slammed the door, retiring the next two batters on a strike out and weak grounder to third.
Hardin worked around a one-out hit in the seventh inning and recorded two of her game-high nine strikeouts to preserve the win.
While Bates was pleased with his team's performance, he knows the Lady Tigers will have to pick up the offense as they head into region play as they left nine runners on base and stranded six in scoring position.
"It's not a concern when pitchers go out there and do what they are supposed to do," Bates said. "Is it something we want to fix? Yes. We may have to start playing more small ball. But I'm proud at the way they played today."
Kusch's two hits led her team while Bagley and Hardin picked up a hit apiece. Alcovy's next home game is Aug. 28 versus North Clayton. The Lady Tigers open Region 4-AAAA play at Mt. Zion Aug. 26.
