sports@standard-democrat.com
ESSEX -- The Richland Lady Rebels volleyball team rallied to defeat Bell City 15-25, 25-23, 27-25 on Wednesday afternoon.
Richland dropped the first set but took a commanding lead in the second set 24-17, before the Lady Cubs responded. Bell City cut the Lady Rebels advantage to 24-23 before a ball fell just out on the sideline, giving Richland the second set.
Bell City led most of the third set, by as many as seven points on different occasions but the Lady Rebels continued to fight back. Trailing 24-20, Richland rallied to tie Bell City 24-24 behind the serving of freshman Bailey Glass. After fighting off a match point, Richland tied the game again at 25-25 before closing out the match winning the final two points behind the serve of junior Jordan Head.
Richland 3-5, improves to 1-4 in the Stoddard County Conference and will play in the Dig For Life Classic volleyball tournament in Cape Girardeau Friday and Saturday. Richland will play Cape Central at 4:30 p.m. and Clearwater at 7:50 p.m. on Friday and then take on Clarkton at 9:40 a.m. Saturday.
__SOFTBALL__
__Sikeston 13, Oran 0__
ORAN -- Rebounding from an 11-run loss to Cape Central the day prior, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs combined for nine runs in the second and third innings Wednesday to down Oran 13-0 via the mercy rule.
"It's the first time for our seniors beating Oran," Sikeston head coach Eric Voorhees said. "It's been at least four or five years since we've had a chance to do it. To come back and beat a pitcher that shut us out twice last year and score some runs says a lot about how our offense has come along."
With a single run in the top of the first inning the Lady Bulldogs took control early before putting four more runs on the board in the second. Sikeston's biggest outburst of the contest came in the third frame where five more runs gave them a commanding 10-0 advantage.
With a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth the Lady Bulldogs ensured the mercy-rule stayed in effect and improved their record to 6-5 on the season.
"Yesterday (against Cape Central) was one of those games that got out of hand early," Voorhees said. "I felt like we came back and battled today, basically just hit the ball and took it to them. I was very proud of the way our girls did that for sure."
Madison Smith picked up the win with a complete game, shutout effort. She allowed four hits without surrendering a walk or collecting a strikeout.
Kylie Noe led the way with a 4 for 4 effort while driving in three runs. Maggie Shepherd had a three-hit afternoon, including two triples and one double while collecting three RBIs.
Jorgia Aters added two doubles and two RBIs to the cause with Myca Martin and Ashton Drake contributing two singles each.
"Defensively we made one error and it was in the last inning with two outs to go," Voorhees said. "So defensively we've shored things up and our offense was clicking on all cylinders."
Sikeston will host Portageville today at 4:30 p.m.