The memorable and historical softball season continues for the CSAS Lady Patriots.
Playing for the second straight game at Warner Park's Frost Stadium, senior pitcher Brianna Taylor hurled her second straight one-hitter and third of the season in a 4-0 victory over Trousdale County Monday afternoon.
The Lady Patriots will face McKenzie in the opening round of the state tournament on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. (CST) at Starplex No. 4
It was another dominating performance by the blonde-headed senior as she struck out 13 without any walks.
She hit leadoff hitter Augie Rodriguez in the top of the first and then retired 20 straight Lady Jackets before sophomore Hannah Brooke Ellis broke up the no-hitter with a double to left-center. Taylor then got a pop to second to end the game and secure the Lady Patriots spot in the state tournament, which begins Tuesday in Murfreesboro.
"That was another great performance by Brianna. She's one of our seniors who has really stepped up, but she's a bulldog. Today was one of her best games of the season and it was close to a season-high in strikeouts," said CSAS coach Kaity Holloway after her team had won for the 25th time in 35 games.
"We executed really well today and this is a huge win for us. I've been wanting this for these girls since I came here three years ago, but we just showed up and played our game. We made a few adjustments at the plate, but we didn't change a thing," Holloway added.
Taylor is now 24-9 with Monday's performance. She was all smiled when it ended.
"We had another goal that we accomplished today, but I was feeling great out there. All of my pitches are working at the right time, but I felt like I had an advantage today," she nodded.
Kiara Suttles, who had three hits to lead the Lady Patriots, ripped a line single down the line in left to score Taylor with the first run of the game in the third inning. Taylor had led off with a double to right-center.
Briana Parker's sacrifice fly to left plated Gabbi Queener with the second run in the fourth following a leadoff double.
Then in the fifth, CSAS scored its final two runs when Victoria Blanton led off with a bunt and went to third on a double by Suttles. Jamani Greer's grounder to first drove in the first run while Britney Patmon's single up the middle allowed Suttles to score.
Trousdale County oach Cecelia Stricker was sad that her team got beat, but she was extremely proud of the way they battled.
"It came down to a matter of who hit and who didn't, but I feel like we played a great game and just totally played our hearts out. We only have one senior on this team, so we're going to make it to the Big Dance one of these years," she added.
Suttles had three hits for the Lady Patriots while Taylor, Blanton and Patmon all had two apiece.
Junior Lyndsey Hall was the losing pitcher for the Lady Jackets after allowing those four runs on a dozen hits. She also walked one and finished with three strikeouts.
Trousdale County's season ends at 12-13.
TROUSDALE CO. 000 000 0 -- 0 1 0
ARTS & SCIENCES 001 120 x -- 4 12 0
Hall and Gregory; Taylor and Suttles.
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@Comcast.net)