ANSONIA – Ansonia’s unbeaten start to the 2026 season came to an end Thursday as the Lady Tigers fell to Covington 17-7 in five innings.
Ansonia entered the night riding a three-game winning streak and holding a 3-0 record, but Covington used a pair of big innings to pull away after the Lady Tigers battled back to tie the game.
“We’re not totally disappointed, we’re a little bit disappointed how we react on some things,” said Ansonia coach David Fisherback. “I told the kids I’ve never seen perfect games and errors are going to happen – we just have to move on.”
Senior Ava Thatcher continued her strong start to the season for Ansonia. After recording her 100th career hit in Saturday’s win over Eaton, Thatcher added an RBI single and a leadoff home run in the third inning against Covington.
“Ava got 100 career hits Saturday against Eaton,” Fisherback noted. “Outstanding young lady, has worked hard all four years I’ve had her, and as you see tonight, she hit a home run. She’s on fire right now, hitting the ball good. That girl works hard all year long, and it’s paying off.”
Covington struck first in the top of the opening inning when Jayda McClure blasted a solo home run to center field for a 1-0 lead.
Ansonia answered in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 3-1 advantage. Thatcher singled to left, while Bre’ana Walker and Lillian Kaiser each drew run-scoring walks to put the Lady Tigers in front.
The Lady Buccaneers responded with a six-run third inning to jump back on top 7-3. Covington collected four hits in the frame, with the biggest swing coming on a three-run home run to right field by Kylie Palsgrove.
Ansonia refused to go away and rallied to knot the score at 7-7 in the bottom of the third. Thatcher opened the inning with a solo homer to center, Dani Gibbs followed with a single, and Shyann McKenna delivered a run-scoring double as the Lady Tigers evened things up.
“The one inning they came back right after we tied it up 7-7,” Fisherback said. “We make an error on a throw, and then we made another error. It’s about trying to prevent big innings.”
Covington took control for good in the top of the fourth, erupting for eight runs on seven hits to build a 15-7 lead. McClure highlighted the inning with her second home run of the night, a two-run shot to center on an 0-2 count.
“Our pitching staff is running a little bit behind,” Fisherback said. “We’re missing some spots. We growled at them a little bit. Our pitching staff is going to be there at the end of the year, and we’ll continue working hard.”
Walker started in the circle for Ansonia, allowing nine runs, five earned, on eight hits over three innings while striking out two and walking three. Whitney Burns went the distance for Covington, giving up seven runs on seven hits in five innings. Burns struck out six and walked four.
Thatcher and McKenna each drove in two runs for the Lady Tigers.
“We have to keep our heads up and battle back,” Fisherback said. “We have to hit the ball and hustle.”
Covington finished with 16 hits on the night. Palsgrove, batting seventh, drove in six runs and went 3-for-4. McClure also had a big night, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, three runs scored, and four RBIs. Cassidy Iddings, Emalyn Johnson, Ava Hartwig, and Taylor Foutz each added multiple hits for the Lady Buccaneers.
BOX SCORE:
123 456 7 R H E
106 82x x 17 16 0 Covington
304 00x x 7 7 2 Ansonia
