For the Daily Journal
Good pitching stops good hitting.
However, when there is good pitching by both teams, something has to give. Unfortunately for host Center Grove, it was a pair of Brownsburg singles in the last inning that did the job.
With two outs and a runner on second base, Brownsburg’s Hayley Huff slapped a single to left field, scoring teammate Lydia Twomey, and pitcher Kelsey Endress shut down the usually potent Trojan hitters to take a 2-1 win Thursday afternoon.
The loss ended the Trojans’ five-game winning streak and was, at least on paper, an upset win for the unranked Bulldogs. Center Grove (6-2) came into the game ranked fifth in Class 4A.
“We have to find a way to not allow teams to score off of one or two hits, and that’s what we’re seeing,” Center Grove coach Alyssa Coleman said. “We have a stellar defense, but teams are getting a run. We have to make it harder for teams to score.”
Not that it was easy for either side on Thursday.
Center Grove’s senior pitcher Abby Herbst had another fine outing, striking out seven batters and scattering six hits — three of which didn’t leave the infield.
“You can’t ask for better (pitching),” Coleman said. “(Herbst) is going to give us consistent games. We have to step up more and score.”
Countering Herbst was Endress, a sophomore, who struck out six, but stifled the Trojan hitters, giving up only three hits.
The Trojans scored first. Alexis Rudd singled and stole a base, and with two outs, junior Kaci Finchum singled Rudd home for what turned out to be Center Grove’s only run of the game.
Brownsburg’s first run game on back-to-back hits in the fourth inning.
Sydney Rodeghier singled, and scored on a long drive to center by Kaylee Larkin that was nearly caught by center fielder Addison Osborn before rolling to the fence.
That was all the scoring until the Bulldogs’ heroics in the seventh.
Rudd led the Trojans with two hits.
“I was proud of our team,” Coleman said. “I saw them make adjustments. The last time we lost we didn’t see adjustments. This game we saw adjustments and we’re one step closer to where we want to get.”
Up next for Center Grove is a home Saturday morning game against Terre Haute South.
