By Noah Dalton
SALEM – For the second straight game, Mitchell High School fell in defeat on the final play of the game, this time losing to Salem on Monday 4-3.
The Bluejackets led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, when the Lions were able to load the bases with just one out, setting up Gabby Hypes, who drove in Kady Schocke to tie the game, with Kenadie Garloch scoring the winning run from second after an error from Mitchell on the same play.
The game was tight throughout, with the Bluejackets scoring in the top of the first thanks to a solo home run from Avery Southern, her ninth of the year. Salem evened things up in the bottom of the inning, with a single from Cassie Walls driving home Hypes from second, after she hit a double earlier in the inning.
Both teams were quiet until the bottom of the sixth, when the Lions were able to take a 2-1 lead, thanks to a ground out from Kendall Hickey that gave way for Hypes to score her second run of the game from third.
The Bluejackets countered in the top of the seventh, loading the bases for Page Mullis, who singled to left field to score Karsyn Coleman and Caitlyn Mullis, giving them a one-run lead before the bottom of the inning.
Mitchell earned five hits in the game, those coming from Southern, Page Mullis, Rylee Brazzell and Caitlyn Mullis, who led the team with two. Both Southern and Page Mullis batted in runs for the Bluejackets, with Mullis knocking in two to lead the team.
Two pitchers shared the mound for the Bluejackets throughout the game, those being Southern and Page Mullis, who ultimately took the loss.
Mullis threw for two innings, facing 10 batters and allowing four hits and one earned run before being relieved by Southern, who pitched the remainder of the game. She faced 20 batters, allowing four hits and two earned runs.
Mitchell, now 13-12 on the year, will next take the field on Wednesday against New Albany. The game will be Senior Night for the Bluejackets, as well as the official dedication of the newly named Parker Field.
