THE EAST Jackson softball team has run into a mini-slump following a strong start to the season.
East Jackson dropped to 5-5-1 overall and 0-2 in the region after an 8-0 loss to Elbert County Thursday. The Eagles gave up six runs in the bottom of the fourth in their third-consecutive loss.
The contest was tied at zero before East Jackson ran into the problematic inning.
“We made an error on the first batter of the bottom of the fourth and the girls could not recover,” coach Brent Howell said. “We gave up a couple of bloop hits and made another error and ended up giving six runs.”
Only two of those fourth-inning runs were earned. Elbert County pushed across two more unearned runs in the fifth to bring the run rule into effect.
Kelsey Palette provided the Eagles only hits, going 2-for-3. Taylor Nix pitched, working four and two-thirds innings. She surrendered 10 hits, eight runs (only four were earned) and two walks. Nix struck out four batters.
“We are working on playing a complete game,” Howell said. “We look really good for most of the game and then we have one or two plays that lead to us giving up runs. The girls are working hard and we will continue working on the intangibles of the game. We are working on having better approaches at the plate and taking advantage of situations that are presented to us both offensively and defensively.”
East Jackson was slated to face West Hall Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. but results weren’t available at press time.
•NORTH OCONEE 9, EAST JACKSON 5: A five-run seventh inning pushed North Oconee past East Jackson last Wednesday in Commerce in a 9-5 Titan win.
The Eagles, seeking a huge region win, led 5-4 until the final inning when some defensive miscues added to North Oconee’s big inning.
“I am really proud of our girls,” Howell said. “We played well for six-and-a-half innings. We did some really good things against a really good team.”
East Jackson finished with seven hits.
Taylor Nix went 2-for-3 with a double. Alx Wheeler was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Emily Turner went 1-for-3 and drove home a run. Ashlie Wuertley and Kelsey Palette were both 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Nix took the loss, surrendering nine runs, only two of which were earned. She walked two batters and struck out five.
“Taylor Nix threw the ball well again and only gave up two earned runs,” Howell said.
