Lady Commanders crush MJCA

MT. JULIET — Friendship Christian made quick work of Mt. Juliet Christian on Tuesday, whipping the Lady Saints 17-1 in three innings.
The Lady Commanders jumped to a 9-0 lead in the first inning and tacked on seven more in the third as they improved to 11-5 for the season and 3-0 in District 8-A.
Friendship finished with just five hits off Paige Hudson, but took advantage of eight errors. Camille Cross tripled while Jessi Couch doubled. Kenzie Dye singled twice and Shelby McDonald once.
The Lady Saints were held to singles by Hudson and Bethany Caldwell off Carrie Fry [two innings] and Dye [one] as they slipped to 4-8, 2-3.
MJCA ace pitcher Courtney Harris was diagnosed with a fracture in her back. Coach Emily Echols said Harris will miss at least two weeks of action.
Friendship will host Donelson Christian at 4 p.m. Thursday. Mt. Juliet Christian will travel to Nashville Christian on Thursday for a 5 p.m. double header. the same day.

Blackman edges Lebanon in eighth inning
MURFREESBORO — Blackman scored on an eighth-inning sacrifice fly to edge visiting Lebanon 5-4 Tuesday night.
A error, single and walk loaded the bases for the walk-off flyout which dropped the Devilettes to 12-8 for the season and 2-2 in District 7-AAA.
Blackman jumped to a 2-0 first-inning lead off Meghan Maynard. The Devilettes battled back to take their only lead, 4-3, with three runs in the top of the sixth before the Blaze tied the score in the bottom half.
Four Lebanon errors made only one of Blackman's runs earned. Maynard allowed seven hits and a walk while striking out six.
Lauren Ludwikowski stroked a pair of RBI singles for Lebanon while Maynard singled twice and hit a run-scoring double in the sixth. Missy Roberts also singled home a run in the sixth. Lacey Doak, Kelsey Blackburn and Mallory Mason added singles for the Devilettes.
Lebanon will host Warren County at 7 p.m. Thursday at Baird Park. The junior varsity will play at 5 p.m.

Lady Bears beat Smyrna
MT. JULIET — After spotting Smyrna an early run, Mt. Juliet rode a home run by Merrick Martin and the pitching of Shelby Morris and Kenzie Roark to a 4-1 victory Tuesday at MJ League Park.
Martin, a transfer from Father Ryan, launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning. Amy Buwalda added an RBI single in the fifth as Mt. Juliet improved to 15-5 for the season and 3-1 in District 9-AAA going into tonight's 7 p.m. game at Wilson Central.
Morris pitched the first three innings, allowing a run on three hits while striking out five. Roark pitched the final four frames, giving up one hit while fanning 10.
Catcher Karli Rush left the game in the first inning when she lost a thrown ball from center-fielder Bijan Stegall in the sun as the Lady Bulldogs scored their run. Coach Kacey Pedigo said Rush was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center where no break was detected, just a sore nose.
Hannah Irwin had three of Mt. Juliet's 10 hits while Stegall, Caroline Mason and Chelsea King [Rush's replacement] each collected one.