Lady Bulldogs no-hit

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs softball team ran into a buzzsaw in the Cape Central Lady Tigers' Amanda Nichols who no-hit the Lady Bulldogs for a 2-0 Lady Tiger victory yesterday at the Sikeston Sports Complex.

Nichols, a freshman, pitched a complete game no-hitter for Cape Central as she struckout 14 Lady Bulldog batters and was three walks away from a perfect game.

Coach Tiffany King of Sikeston tipped her cap to Nichols and her pitching performance.

"She had a lively ball," said King. "Had nice rise-ball and located her pitches inside and out."

Cape Central scored a run in the top of the first as Jamie Dement led of the game with a walk. She preceded to steal second base and would advance to third base on a wild pitch. As Dement was advancing to third, Sikeston's catcher would commit a throwing error as she overthrew the shortstop covering third base allowing Dement to score an unearned run.

Cape Central would score a second unearned run in the top of the fourth inning as Paige Rothenberger would reach first base on a error by Sikeston's first basemen who mishandled the throw from the shortstop.

Sirena Williams would single home Rothenberger with two outs in the inning and the two unearned runs would be the final as Cape Central would prevail 2-0.

Sikeston's Molly Brinkmeyer pitched a complete game for the Lady Bulldogs striking out nine, walking three and allowing only four hits.

A bright spot for the Lady Bulldogs was the return of Allison Blurton in the bottom of the fifth. Blurton pitch ran and stole second base. When she entered the game, the entire Sikeston fan base cheered wildly.

"Allison has been cleared to play by the doctors but we want to bring her along slowly," said King.

Blurton has been out for the entire year trying to recover from a shoulder injury.

Leading hitters for Cape Central were Williams who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Dement and Courtney Schuessler would each tally a single for the Lady Tigers.

While Sikeston's hitters went silent, the fielding was outstanding. In the top of the fifth, Sikeston would gun down a Cape Central runner at home. Right fielder Kaityln Turnbow fielded a single on her way an make a perfect throw to first basemen Ally Friend who then whirled and made a perfect relay throw to catcher Kaycie Williams who tagged out the runner.

"Although we couldn't hit the ball today, we played some good defense and hopefully our bats can come alive next game," said King.

Sikeston (8-11) will be in action today as they entertain Egyptian Ill. with first pitch scheduled at 4 p.m.

Cape Central 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 2 4 0

Sikeston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 2

W-Nichols (C) L-Brinkmeyer (S)

RBI-Watkins (C), SB-Dement (C) (2), Blurton (S), Silverthorn (S), BB-Dement (C) (2), Rothenberger (C), Silverthorn (S) (2), Friend (S)