The Preston Lady Pirates powered their way to an 8-2 victory over a tough and determined Henryetta Lady Knights on Tuesday, thanks to an outstanding performance by Taylan Starr. Starr was unstoppable at the plate, collecting three hits, including a solo home run in the seventh inning, and driving in two runs to lead the Lady Pirates to victory.
The Preston Lady Pirates powered their way to an 8-2 victory over a tough and determined Henryetta Lady Knights on Tuesday, thanks to an outstanding performance by Taylan Starr. Starr was unstoppable at the plate, collecting three hits, including a solo home run in the seventh inning, and driving in two runs to lead the Lady Pirates to victory.
Starr set the tone early with a single in the first inning and kept the momentum going with another single in the sixth before capping her night with a towering home run to center field in the seventh. Her clutch hitting was instrumental in Preston’s decisive win.
The Lady Pirates broke the game open in the sixth inning, scoring five runs to take control. Starr’s single brought in a run, followed by Kristen Houlby’s two-run double. Na’Braijhanae Phillips added an RBI double, and Josie Cope hit a sacrifice fly to round out the scoring spree.
Earlier in the game, Preston struck first in the fourth inning when Olivia Beaver launched a two-run homer to center field, giving the Lady Pirates an early lead. However, Henryetta quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game with an RBI groundout by Allie Davis and a run-scoring single from Keegan Hamric.
With the game tied heading into the sixth, Preston’s offense came alive, putting the game out of reach for the Lady Knights. Starr’s solo shot in the seventh inning provided an insurance run and added an exclamation point to the Lady Pirates’ victory.
On the mound, Josie Cope earned the win for Preston, delivering a strong start. She pitched four innings, allowing five hits and two unearned runs while striking out eight and walking one. Starr was equally impressive in relief, throwing three scoreless innings without giving up a hit, striking out eight, and not issuing a single walk.
Preston’s offense was firing on all cylinders, racking up 12 hits in the game. Beaver, Houlby, and Starr each drove in two runs, while Phillips and Kynlee Martin contributed multiple hits. Starr also showcased her speed on the basepaths, stealing two bases.
Henryetta’s offense was led by Allie Davis and Keegan Hamric, who each collected one RBI. Despite their efforts, the Lady Knights were unable to keep pace with the relentless Lady Pirates.
With this victory, the Preston Lady Pirates continue to build momentum as they prepared for their next game against the Rejoice Christian Eagles on Thursday. The Lady Pirates will look to extend their winning streak and carry their strong form into the next matchup.