Oran defense holds SHS

Sikeston's Elizabeth Rains is tagged out at home plate by Oran catcher Amanda Williams Thursday afternoon in Oran. The Lady Eagles defeated Sikeston 8-4. (Photos by David Jenkins, Staff)

ORAN -- After falling to the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs earlier in the season during the Notre Dame Softball Classic, the Oran Lady Eagles returned the favor on Thursday afternoon with a 8-4 win.

"This was a much needed win," Oran head coach Sara Heisserer said. "We've kind of been struggling this week. It was nice to get a win over them since they beat us earlier in the year."

Sikeston shortstop Krystal Henson prepares for a play at second as Oran's Taylor Tenkhoff tries to steal Thursday afternoon. Closing in to help is Sikeston's Kristen King. Tenkhoff was safe on the play.

Sikeston's head coach Tiffany King knew that the earlier win could potentially add an extra boost in Oran's fight.

"We beat Oran earlier this year and I told them they were going to put up a fight and they did," said King. "Oran made some good plays at times and we just didn't execute on our side."

The non-execution that King mentioned was on the defensive side. Sikeston committed six errors on the field which led to a run almost every time.

Oran's Courtney Scheeter delivers a pitch to a Sikeston batter Thursday afternoon.

"You go back and look at the book and I bet you we had close to eight errors," King said. "They had eight runs so I bet you we had about eight errors. I keep telling the girls that every error equals a run. The team that plays the better defense is going to win."

Defense has also been a problem for the Lady Eagles as of late. In Wednesday's game against Delta, Oran committed 10 errors that led to a 7-1 loss. Thursday's game only saw three errors from the Lady Eagle defense.

"It couldn't had gotten any worse," Heisserer said about the comparison of the two games. "It was very nice to see that. We started struggling hitting but our defense was OK but then they both started struggling and then the defense just got horrible. I was kind of getting worried with districts two weeks away but this is a good win for us."

With a 6-4 Oran lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lady Eagles starting pitcher, freshman Courtney Scheeter, helped her cause by advancing two runs across the plate off of a Sikeston error to add some extra insurance for Oran, which is something that Heisserer always stresses to her starting pitchers before their start.

"I always tell our pitchers to 'help your cause and get things going and make it easy on yourself'," Heisserer said. "She did well all around. She is pretty impressive for a freshman."

Scheeter received the win for her efforts by pitching all seven innings and allowing three earned runs on eight hits and four walks. She also struck out one Sikeston batter.

On the other side, Sarah Hopson got the loss for Sikeston. She pitched all six of Sikeston's innings giving up only one earned run out of the eight.

"Maybe I should have made some changes but when they're (Oran) hitting the ball and we're not making the plays you can't really take your pitcher out for not trying," King said. "She's putting the ball where she needs to put it. When you can't make the plays you can't punish the pitcher for that."

Hopson also struck out five as well.

Abbey Anderson, Amanda Williams and Taylor Tenkhoff each had two hits for Oran. Williams drove in two runs while Tenkhoff and Kirstie Mangels each had an RBI as well.

Hopson led the Lady Bulldogs with three hits and one RBI. Mary Deason also had three hits with two of them being doubles. Sydney Davied and Kelsie Cooper chipped in with one hit a piece as well. Davied's hit earned her one RBI.

Sikeston's next game will be on Monday against Scott City, while Oran will travel to Kelly to take on the Lady Hawks on Wednesday.