It was the small things which nipped victory away from Alba-Golden’s Lady Panthers last Tuesday. The visiting Como-Pickton Lady Eagles took a 3-1 win back home.

The loss squandered a truly impressive pitching performance by freshman Adielyn Smith. She spread six hits over seven innings, striking out 15 and giving up two free passes. Most notably, her ability to come back from being behind in the count and dispatch hitters was remarkable. 

The freshman already has the composure of a seasoned starter.

She was matched against Como-Pickton righthander Lexie Rainey. Rainey likewise gave up six hits. She struck out nine and walked one. 

As those pitching lines indicate, the first three innings were nearly a clean slate. Smith set down the first nine Lady Eagles in order. 

The Lady Panthers put runners on in the second with a Kayleigh Logan single through the right side and in the third thanks to a Baillee Bishop double. Both were stranded. 

The Lady Eagles got on the board in the fourth. Their lead-off hitter doubled to left. She scored two batters later on a soft line drive which fell into short left field. 

With two runners on base, Smith buckled down and closed the inning with two strike-outs.  

Alba-Golden put two on in the bottom half but left them on base. 

Como-Pickton added a run in the fifth. Their lead-off hitter lined a single into left. She advanced on a mishandled throw to first from behind the plate and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She scored on a base hit to center.  

The Panthers needed a spark. They got it from senior Bailee Bishop, who laced a one-out single up the middle. Bishop went 2-3 on the night, as did Logan. They combined for four of the six hits from the 8th and 9th spots in the order.

Bishop went to third on a Smith single through the left side and scored on a Megan Wallace double to left. With two outs, Como-Pickton intentionally walked Kendra Jones to load the bases. Joecy Lewers got underneath a pitch which was collected by the Lady Eagle centerfielder to end the inning. 

The score was 2-1 going into the sixth. More small things bit the Lady Panthers. A mishandled throw in the field, an error on a difficult but makeable chance on a ground ball, and a passed ball combined to give Como-Pickton its third run.  

The Lady Panthers went down in order in the sixth. The game went into the seventh 3-1. 

There was hope. Bishop led off and reached on a rare Como-Pickton error. Kalli Trimble drilled a hot line drive directly to the Lady Eagle second baseman. There was no chance for Bishop to get back and she was doubled up at first. The Lady Panther rally ended.

The next opportunity to see the Lady Panthers at home is Tuesday, April 2 versus Detroit.