Dunwoody freshman Lindsay Parkes pitched 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to keep Dunwoody in the game down 2-0. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Freshman Lindsay Parkes pitched 5 1/3 innings scoreless innings of relief to help lead the Dunwoody Lady Wildcats in their come-from-behind 8-2 victory over the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs at Chamblee on Monday in DeKalb County’s first softball game this season
Dunwoody (1-0) was trailing 2-0 with two out in the bottom of the second inning when Parkes relieved Wildcat starter Maddie Lucius. Parkes gave up a walk and with runners on first and third she struck out Chamblee’s Shea Parker to end the threat and keep the game within reach down 2-0.
Chamblee starter Margaret Axelson cruised through the first five innings striking out eight Dunwoody batters and allowing just two hits as the Bulldogs held the 2-0 lead.
Parkes would set the Bulldogs down in order in four of her five full innings on the mound while allowing just one hit and striking out five.
Abby Hughes walked to start off the top of the sixth for Dunwoody then stole second and third before Jaida McCord went the opposite way to left field to trim the lead to 2-1.
Dunwoody loaded the bases against Axelson on a bunt single and an error to bring Ryan Boaz to the plate. Boaz hit into a fielder’s choice to first baseman Lily McCord who threw home for the out, but the ball got away on the play to allow Gracie Puckett to tie the game and put runners on second and third.
Amelia McEwen followed with a two-run single to right putting the Wildcats up 4-2. Dunwoody would score two more runs before Chamblee reliever Lily McCord struck out two batters to end the inning trailing 6-2.
Chamblee’s Margaret Axelson (left) beats the tag of Dunwoody shortstop Ryan Boaz (right) to reach second base safely. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Parkes set Chamblee down in order in the bottom of the sixth and Dunwoody struck for two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a RBI double by Molly Kotzin and run-scoring single by Boaz to make it 8-2.
The Bulldogs went down in order again in the bottom of the seventh as Parkes closed out the season opening win.
Chamblee took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Lily McCord lined a two-out hit off a diving Kotzin at first base to score Axelson. The lead increased to 2-0 in the second inning on Savannah Russell’s sacrifice fly to left to plate Lydia Davis who had reached on an infield single to lead off the frame.
Kotzin and Puckett were both 2-4 to lead Dunwoody at the plate. Shea Parker was 2-3 to lead Chamblee.