BETHANY — The Bronchos pulled away from Clinton in an 8-5 Senior Night win Monday (Sept. 22).

“Always glad to get the win,” Bethany coach Booker Blakley said via text. “Don’t feel like we played up to our ability but battled and got it done.”

Bethany struck first in a back-and-forth contest after senior Madison Bibbs sent a ball over the left field fence in the first inning.

The Lady Reds countered with three runs in the second inning on two hits, two sacrifice bunts and a Bethany error. The Bronchos got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Bibbs singled senior Emma Buxton home. Buxton reached on an infield error to lead off the inning.

Bethany tied the game in the third inning. Junior Ella Davis led off with a single and scored on a double from fellow junior Grey Williamson.

A two-out rally in the fourth gave the lead back to the Bronchos.

Madison Bibbs walked and scored on a single from junior Jules Barger. Barger later scored to give Bethany a 5-3 lead.

The advantage was short-lived, however. Clinton mounted a two-out rally of its own. A Bethany error and a two-run homer from Clinton sophomore Rhylee Rodebush tied the game at 5-5.

In the sixth inning, the Bronchos took the lead for good. Seniors Maddison McNutt and Madison Bibbs had back-to-back walks. Barger and Ella Davis doubled back-to-back for the 8-5 lead.

“The top three in the lineup definitely carried us offensively but the rest of the lineup had a lot of other well-hit balls that Clinton made some difficult plays on,” Blakley said.

At the top of the order, Madison Bibbs was 2-for-2 with three runs scored, two runs batted in and two walks. Barger followed with a 2-for-4 performance with two runs scored and three RBIS. Ella Davis went 4-for-4 with two runs batted in. Senior Paige Sechrist annd Williamson each went 1-for-4. Williamson drove in a run.

Bethany collected 10 hits in the win.

Senior Jayda Davis scattered three hits over four innings with one of the three runs she allowed being earned. She struck out four batters.

Sechrist allowed two hits and two runs in three innings. She struck out five batters.

Neither pitcher walked a batter.

The team honored the senior class as part of the contest.

“Seniors have been such a big part of our success here this year and during their career,” Blakley said. “They help with all facets of our team, pitching, catching, infield and outfield. They have done such a great job this year and looking forward to seeing how far we can go.”

UP NEXT

Bethany (14-10, 8-2) travels to Kingfisher (22-6, 6-4) Tuesday (Sept. 23). The Yellow Jackets beat Clinton, 6-0, last Thursday (Sept. 18).

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Clinton (6-16, 1-11)	0	3	0	0	2	0	0	5	5	1
Bethany (14-10, 8-2)	1	1	1	2	0	3	X	8	10	2

Photographs courtesy of Kristie Escoe of Life in Action Photography.