Comets softball picks up sweep of North Arkansas College

Friday, April 8, 2016
Comets freshman, Jessica Manderino, steps into a pitch. (Photo by Matthew Resnick/Daily Mail)

The Cottey Comets notched a sweep of North Arkansas College on a windy Thursday afternoon at Vanek Family Field. The sweep gives Cottey three consecutive victories, all coming against North Arkansas. The win improves the Comets to 3-15 overall, tripling their win total from 2015.

The Comets actually came up on the losing end of the first game, with the final score 9-8. Cottey rebounded in the second game, drilling North Arkansas 18-10 in six innings.

North Arkansas however, was only able to dress-out eight players, resulting in an automatic forfeit of both games, according to Comets head coach Stephanie Beason.

In the second game, the Comets opened up a 10-run lead in the bottom of the first inning.

Freshman Jessica Manderino's RBI-double put Cottey on top 2-0. Fellow freshman DeLaina Finley followed at the plate with a single, scoring Manderino to hand the Comets a 3-0 lead.

The hit-parade continued with Breanna Kelley's single to left field, scoring Finley, as the Comets went on top 4-0.

Later in the inning, Cottey's lead increased to 5-0, via a Karliegh Conner line-drive RBI-smash to left-center field.

A Kaitlyn Hill 2-RBI double to right field gave Cottey a 7-0 lead. The Comets advantage swelled to 9-0 courtesy of a Madison Hedges 2-RBI triple. Manderino tacked on the final run of the inning with a triple hammered into deep-right field, scoring Hedges, as Cottey led 10-0.

North Arkansas trimmed its deficit to 12-7 entering the bottom of the fourth inning. The Comets quickly responded, as Hill crushed a pitch over the left-center field fence. Hill's 2-run home run put the Comets up 14-7. Later in the inning, a Finley double plated Hedges and Manderino, as Cottey went up 17-7, coasting to victory.

For Cottey, Hedges pitched in the first game, while Mary Atherton started the second game of the twinbill, and was later relieved by Conner.

"We're starting to make little improvements," Beason said, "and starting to get the bat on the ball more. We've been playing a lot better lately."

Beason said she was pleased with her team's 26-combined runs against North Arkansas, as Manderino, Kelley, and Conner each homered in the first game, while Hill homered in the second contest. Manderino now has three home runs on the season.

"I think our freshman group is one heck of a group," Beason said. "So we're looking forward to all of them coming back, and building onto that with some additional recruits next year ---- and getting something going with the program."

Beason said she has been impressed with Hedges as well.

"Maddi has been pitching really well," Beason said. "She keeps hitters second-guessing with her movement."

Up next

The Comets host St. Louis Community College, today, with the first game slated for 6 p.m. at Bushwhacker Field. The nightcap is scheduled for 8 p.m.

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