ANSONIA – The Arcanum Lady Trojans capitalized on free passes and timely hitting to earn a 6-4 Western Ohio Athletic Conference (WOAC) win over the host Ansonia Lady Tigers on Tuesday.
“Ugly win — you have to win some ugly games,” said Arcanum coach Mike Morris. “I wish we were playing better. We’re not playing really well right now, and that concerns me a little bit. We have a day of practice, and then we’re back at it Thursday.”
Arcanum made the most of six walks and seven hits on the night, with the bottom of the lineup providing a spark. Emily Fox, Ella Flatter, and Merideth Laux combined for four hits, four runs scored, and two RBIs in the win.
Despite loading the bases with one out in the opening inning, Arcanum was unable to push a run across early.
“I thought we started out hot,” Morris said. “We had bases loaded and one out and didn’t score any.”
Ansonia took advantage, getting on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Ava Thatcher grounded into a double play, allowing a run to score for a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Trojans answered in a big way in the top of the second inning, using patience at the plate to take control. Laux singled to center, Fox followed with a single down the left field line, and both Cam Garbig and Jordyn Garbig drew bases-loaded walks as Arcanum plated four runs to grab a 4-1 advantage.
“Tonight things were going good, there were two outs in the second inning, and all of a sudden Miley couldn’t throw a strike,” said Ansonia coach David Fisherback. “We had to bring in Bre, and it took her a batter or two, so we walked two runs in.”
Fisherback pointed to inconsistency on the mound as a continuing issue.
“Thursday at Tri-County North, we walked seven batters and hit two,” he said. “Of those nine batters, five scored, and we get beat 10-9. Friday night, we go to Houston, no walks, and we hit the ball really well.”
Arcanum starter Cam Garbig earned the win, going the distance while allowing seven hits and four runs — only one earned — with seven strikeouts and four walks.
“We had a bunch of strikeouts looking too early, and that just bothered me,” Morris said. “We didn’t attack the zone. Their pitcher did a good job working outside, and we didn’t adjust. We need to do a better job of that.”
Ansonia was led offensively by Dani Gibbs, who drove in two runs while going 2-for-3 from the nine spot in the lineup. Gibbs and Shyann McKenna each recorded two hits for the Lady Tigers.
On the mound, Miley Walls took the loss for Ansonia, allowing four runs on two hits with four walks in one and one-third innings. Bre Walker provided solid relief, pitching five and one-third innings while giving up two runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking two.
“We cannot walk batters, and you see what happens with one bad inning,” Fisherback said. “On the other side, we had opportunities early and didn’t take advantage.”
With the win, Arcanum improves to 4-4 overall and 2-0 in WOAC play, while Ansonia falls to 4-4 overall and 0-3 in conference action.
BOX SCORE:
123 456 7 R H E
040 001 1 6 7 1 Arcanum
100 003 0 4 7 2 Ansonia
