Cougars cruise to run-rule win

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GREENFIELD – The Greenfield-Central Cougars softball team has been busy. Over the last two weeks they’ve played nine games, including Thursday night’s 16-3 five inning victory against Rushville.

For Cougars coach Jason Stewart, that meant Thursday was going to be a night to give his usual starters some rest and some new players some experience.

“Tonight was a great win for us,” Stewart said. “We got some girls their first varsity starts and also gave some of our starters a day of rest.”

The game was in the Cougars’ control from the start. Greenfield-Central scored 15 runs in the first two innings and batted around in both frames. The first three hitters in the Cougars batting order, Lexi Rankin, Jessie Rankin and Sam Kihega, each went 3 for 3 with three singles and an RBI.

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Those three getting on base served things up nicely for Cougar third baseman Maria Kihega, who hit a two-run double in the first inning and then hit a solo home run and an RBI double in the second inning to finish 3 for 3 with four RBIs on the night before being subbed out.

Keeping the Lions in check was sophomore pitcher Macy Fultz, making her first varsity start. Fultz allowed only three runs on four hits en route to notching her first varsity win.

“I thought Macy pitched really well,” Stewart said. “With the weather the way it was (20 mph wind gusts, 48 degrees) I thought she was really impressive.”

The victory improves the Cougars record to 7-2 on the season, and they get the weekend off of game action as they do not play again until next Tuesday, when they travel to Shelbyville to kick off a week of three Hoosier Heritage Conference games.

“We’ve got three conference games next week,” Stewart said. “We’ll be well rested and ready to go.”