PALMYRA — Before she took the mound, her team had already given her the lead, albeit a small one. After a Javannah Taylor walk, stolen base and then an RBI double from Kayla Taylor in the top of the first, Buckingham County pitcher Libby Morris took care of the rest, pitching seven shutout innings to lead the Knights to a 5-0 road win over Fluvanna County.
“We’re a momentum team,” said Knights coach Missy Shores. “We’ve got to get that first run and once we do, we usually roll with it.”
Morris was lights out from top to bottom, striking out a dozen batters while allowing just six base runners on three walks and three hits as she battled the Fluvanna batters with her fastball low and away while mixing in her change-up.
“In the first couple of innings I was feeling real strong,” Morris said. “Then as the game went on my defense played really well behind me because (Fluvanna) was stepping up and hitting the ball a little more. But I thought we looked pretty good.”
After Buckingham picked up their lone run in the first, the game became a defensive struggle for five innings with Fluvanna’s Hannah Miller striking out five batters and walking just two batters and giving up just one hit through her four innings of work.
But in the sixth inning the Knights gave their senior pitcher some welcome insurance as Buckingham strung together five singles in their first six at-bats, including Elynn Lee’s gap shot which drove in a pair of runs. And with a 5-run lead in place, Morris shut the door over the next two innings to wrap up the win.
“Our focus is getting prepared for the James River District,” Shores said. “But this start has been a big-up for our team. We lost here last year in a heartbreaker and so it’s good to come back and get the win this year.”
For Fluvanna it was tough slugging, as a young Flucos squad was unable to capitalize on the few base runners that Morris allowed.
“It’s pretty simple,” said Fluvanna coach Nick Ward. “If you don’t score you’re not going to win.”
Fluvanna had a pair of runners in scoring position − Kristen Bowman with one out in the first inning and Miller in the fourth with no outs – but could not bunt either of the two any further than second base, and that’s something that Ward hopes will improve sooner rather than later.
“We’ve got to be able to practice on the field first of all,” Ward said. “You can work on directional bunts in the gym all you want, but you’re not out here with the lines down you’re not getting the true fleeing (of an at-bat). We need to be able to play better small ball than what we did tonight.”
Bowman, Miller and Brianna Robbins picked up the three hits for the Flucos.
Buckingham shortstop Katie Adams went 2 for 4 with and an RBI. Marci Christian went 1 for 2 and had a run scored and four stolen bases.
The Knights (2-0) travel to Prince Edward on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
The Flucos (1-1) host Spotsylvania on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
