The fifth ranked Grayson Viking softball team split with Vernon on the road on Wednesday, April 2.
Game one
The Viking rally came up just short in game one, as Vernon won 4-3. It was a scoreless first two and a half innings. Vernon got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Kynlee Lewis drew a leadoff walk, Avery Pemberton reached on an error, and Kemden Hutton signled home the first run of the game.
In the fourth inning, Cadence Verona led off with a walk and Kylie Phillips reached on an error, putting runners on second and third. A sac fly from Kynlee Lewis put Vernon ahead 2-0, and Avery Pemberton made it a 3-0 game with a single.
In the top of the fifth, KK King led off with a double, and moved to third on a passed ball. Abby Wood grounded out, bringing home a run, and cutting the Viking deficit to 3-1. A sac fly from Hutton in the sixth inning pushed the Vernon lead to 4-1.
In the seventh inning, Daeya Moses led off with a single, and KK King followed with a two run homer (Number 15 on the year) to cut the deficit to 4-3. Layla Sons followed with a single, and moved into scoring position on a bunt, but the Vikings could draw no closer.
Grayson tallied seven hits offensively in this one. King and Sophie Jenkins each led the way with two hits each. King had two RBI, giving her 47 on the year.
In the circle, Delilah Robles started, giving up one earned run on four hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Riley Mays came in relief, giving up three runs, walking two and striking out five.
Game two
Grayson got on the board in the first inning. Matti Matthews led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on an error. A groundout by Aniyah Pequeno scored Matthews, and the Vikings led 1-0.
In the the second inning, Halle Giaudrone hit a two run home run (her 10th of the year) to give Grayson a 3-0 lead. Morgan Yeager hit a two run single in the fifth for Vernon to cut the lead to 3-2.
In the sixth inning, the Viking added some insurance runs. Layla Sons reached on an error, and advanced to third on a double from Abby Wood. Jaclyn Draeger plated Sons on a sac fly for a 4-2 lead.
In the seventh inning, Sophie Jenkins hit an RBI triple, scoring Layne Reh, who led off the inning with a single. KK King drove in a run with a groundout to make it 6-3. Vernon loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Mays got a pop out to end the game.
The Grayson offense got 11 hits in this one. Wood, King, Jenkins and Matthews all had two hits each. Giaudrone drove in a pair of runs, while King, Jenkins, Pequeno and Draeger all had an RBI.
In the circle, Macey Jones drew the start. She threw 4.2 innings, giving up five hits, two runs. She walked none and struck out one. Mays tossed 2.1 innings, giving up just one run, two walks, and struck out two.
