Published: July 02, 2009 08:58 am      

Vipers improve to 4-0 with sweep of Williamsburg

Special to The Times-Tribune

The Southern Kentucky Vipers improved to 4-0 on the season after upending Williamsburg twice in a doubleheader this past week.

Southern Kentucky won its first game, 20-3, and responded in the nightcap with a 25-4 victory.

“We hit the ball well at times, but we still need to work on our defensive play,” coach David Byrd said. “I tip my hat to Williamsburg because they have improved each time we have played them.

“The Williamsburg coaches and players have worked really hard to improve and will be a tough team to beat in the future,” he added.

Byrd said he expects his team to continue to improve as the season progresses.

“We’re going to play close to a 30-game schedule, so we’ve got to begin to hit the ball better,” he said. “We hit the ball well in spurts, but to get to the next level, we’ve got to hit better.

“I thought our defense improved as the game went on, but we still made a few mistakes here and there,” Byrd added. “Halia Stidham made a heck of a catch in the outfield.”

• Game one

Southern Kentucky 20, Williamsburg 3

It didn’t take long for the Vipers to jump out on Williamsburg. Leslie Dixon led things off with a single and Bailey Smith followed with a hit of her own, which set up Kenlee Rogers’ run-scoring single two batters later.

Kylie McClain followed with a two-run double, while Harleigh Grubb’s two-run double gave her team a 5-0 edge.

Southern kentucky added five more runs in the third inning, as Halia Stidham led off with a single, while Dixon followed with a single of her own. Smith came up and delivered a two-run triple, while Tori Byrd delivered a two-run homer to make the score, 8-0. The Vipers added two more runs in the inning to take a 10-0 edge.

Southern Kentucky added five more runs in the fourth inning, as Smith and Kenlee Rogers each drove in two runs apiece, while Stidham connected with a run-scoring single to give her team a 15-0 edge.

Becca Riley and Grubb each scored in the top of the fifth inning, while Cassie Hubbard drove in a run, as the Vipers’ lead grew to 17-0.

Williamsburg got on the scoreboard during the bottom of the fifth inning, as Sydney Tye delivered a three-run homer to make the score, 17-3.

A two-run single by Byrd and a run-scoring single by McClain wrapped up Southern Kentucky’s 17-run victory.

Dixon (four runs scored), Smith (two doubles, a triple, four RBI and four runs scored), McClain (one double, three runs scored and three RBI) and Riley (three runs scored, one RBI) each went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, while Stidham was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Abby Jackson was 2-for-2 with one run scored.

Byrd (three runs scored, one home run and three RBI), Rogers (two runs scored, one double, three RBI) and Grubb (two RBI and one run scored) each collected three hits. Alyssa Prewitt also delivered a hit in the win.

• Game two

Southern Kentucky 25, Williamsburg 4

The Vipers caught fire at the plate and delivered the maximum number of runs allowed per inning (five) through the first three innings before winning, 25-4.

McClain’s two-run home run highlighted the first inning, while Byrd drove in three runs with a hit in the second inning. McClain, Byrd, Alexis Prewitt and Jackson each drove in runs during the third inning to make the score, 15-0.

Dixon led the top of the fourth off with a triple, while Smith, Rogers, Riley and Grubb each drove in runs to give Southern Kentucky a 19-0 edge.

The Vipers’ lead grew to 24-0 in the top of the fifth inning after Rogers connected with a two-run double, while Dixon, Smith and McClain each drove in runs.

Williamsburg’s bats got going in the bottom of the inning, as Sydney Bunch delivered a two-run single, while Jayla Cornette followed with a run-scoring single of her own to make the score, 24-3.

Jackson drove in another run in the top of the sixth Inning for the Vipers, while Faz Jackson scored in the bottom of the sixth inning for Williamsburg.

Dixon (four runs scored, two triples and an RBI), Rogers (four runs scored, three doubles and four RBI) and Grubb (four runs scored, two triples and two RBI) each went perfect at the plate with four hits apiece, while Smith, Byrd, McClain, Riley and Jackson each finished the game with three hits apiece. Stidham and Hubbard each had two hits, while Kiana Wine connected with a single in the win.