Vikings fall to Lawrence County, snapping 22-game win streak

LOUISA, Ky. — The streak has ended. But what a ride.

The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings lost their first game of the season, then won 22 straight before a 12-8 loss on the road to the Lawrence County Lady Bulldogs on Monday.

“We didn’t play badly. We didn’t hit as well as we have been. The game went back and forth. It was just one of those things that couldn’t be helped,” said Lady Vikings coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.

“That’s the longest winning streak we’ve had since I’ve been coaching. It’s been a lot of fun and a lot of different people contributing.”

Symmes Valley (22-2) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Brenna Tibbs walked, stole second and third and Emma Ridenour had an RBI single. Marley Ferguson and Lindsey Freeman each had an RBI single.

The lead went to 5-0 in the top of the second.

Tibbs singled with 2 outs, Ridenour was safe on an error, Ferguson singled and Freeman doubled home 2 runs.

The Lady Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the inning only to have Symmes Valley go up 6-5 in the top of the third when Tibbs doubled, stole third and scored on a hit by Ferguson.

But Lawrence County scored 3 times in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 8-6 and scored 4 more in the sixth to lead 12-6.

The Lady Vikings mounted a rally in the seventh when Tibbs walked and Freeman belted a two-out, 2-run home run. But the Lady Vikings couldn’t sustain the rally.

Symmes Valley had 9 hits with Freeman leading the way as she went 2-4 with a double, home run and 3 RBI.  Ferguson was 3-4 with 5 RBI, Tibbs 2-2 with a double, Ridenour 1-4 and Natalie Simpson 1-3.

Lawrence County (15-6) had 11 hits with Gracie Pierce going 3-4 with 3 RBI and a double, Abby Maynard 2-4 with 2 RBI and a double, Addalyn Woods 2-3 with 2 RBI, Brinley Baisden 2-4 with 2 RBI.

The Lady Vikings will host Chillicothe on Friday.

Sym. Valley 321 000 2 = 8 9 0

Lawrence Co. 053 004 x = 12 11 2

Brenna Tibbs, Addy Hawk (5) and Kaycee Thompson. Taylor Blevins and Abby Maynard. W-Blevins (IP-7.0, H-9, R-8, ER-8, K-7, BB-2). L-Tibbs (IP-4.0, H-5, R-8, ER-4, K-7, BB-6). Hawk (IP-2.0, H-4, R-4, ER-4, K-2, BB-1). Hitting-Symmes Valley: Marley Ferguson 3-4 3-RBI, Brenna Tibbs 2-2 2B, Lindsey Freeman 2-4 5-RBI 2B HR, Natalie Simpson 1-3, Emma Ridenour 1-4; Lawrence County: Gracie Pierce 3-4 3-RBI 2B, Abby Maynard 2-4 2-RBI 2B, Addalyn Woods 2-3 2-RBI, Brinley Baisden 2-4 2-RBI, Emalynn Kitts 1-3 2B, Jada Patton 1-2 2-RBI