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Orange softball rebounds to beat Monticello

For Orange County, Wednesday night was all about bouncing back after a frustrating loss to rival Louisa County Tuesday.

 

“Coming out here tonight I told the girls they really needed this win,” said Orange coach Doris Buzzell. “And they said they were going to get it.”

 

The Hornets did go out and get it, knocking off a scrappy Monticello squad 3-2 with a tremendous defensive effort behind pitcher Ashley Brassart.

 

Brassart had one strikeout while allowing one walk and four hits. She leaned on her defense, including a couple of stellar plays by freshman centerfielder Samantha Ferguson on hard-hit balls by the Mustangs.

 

“(Ferguson) did a great job, I’m really proud of her,” Buzzell said. “I’m really proud of my girls.”

 

Monticello got out to a 1-0 lead on the Hornets before Orange evened things up in the fourth and then nudged ahead 3-1 in the firth. Monticello got a run back in the bottom of the fifth but couldn’t scratch out anything else as Brassart and the Hornets’ defense locked them down.

 

“We were in it the whole time and we stayed in it,” said Monticello coach Beth Humphrey. “We’re proud of the way they reacted — they’re a good ball team.”

 

Amya Ferguson led the Hornets at the plate with a 3-for-4 day with a trio of singles. Brooke Figgins and Lindsey Slaughter knocked in all three runs with Figgins plating two and Slaughter bringing home the other. Brassart went 2-for-4 for Orange and scored a run.

 

Lexi Lomax was steady in the field as usual at shortstop making play after play for Orange.

 

For Monticello, Kirstena Lilley went 2-for-3 in the cleanup spot while Hannah Shifflett brought in both runs despite an 0-for-3 outing, giving the Mustangs a lot of what they needed to have a shot at knocking off Orange. It was a big step in the right direction for Monticello too as the Mustangs fell 12-1 to the Hornets in their first meeting. Emily Clifford pitched out of some tough spots to keep Orange from blowing the game open, picking up two strikeouts and surrendering just two runs.

 

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