University of Florida commit Addison Allaire was flawless on Thursday night.
But one pitch ruined a nearly perfect game.
Texas A&M commit Leanna Bourdage had an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth as GHS edged Trenton, 1-0, at Boulware Ballpark.
As part of the “Kansas Tiebreaker,” Trenton’s second in as many days, Aubree Suarez led off the inning in scoring position at second base and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Roxy Walsh.
However, leadoff hitter Taylor Rogers bunted a line drive to third and Trenton third baseman Madison Hinote made a diving catch for the second out of the inning.
Bourdage then hit a 0-1 pitch into center field for the game-winner as the Hurricanes (7-6) split the 2-game series.
“I knew she was going to throw me a changeup,” Bourdage said. “I was so ready. I was like, okay sit back, you’re going to drive it.”
She also accounted for their only run on Feb. 19, a solo home run off Allaire, which was one of just two hits the junior allowed in the first meeting.
The All-SEC matchup in the circle between Allaire and Bourdage lived up to its billing.
“Obviously a pitcher’s duel,” said Gainesville coach Chris Chronister. “You can’t go nine innings scoreless, or eight innings scoreless, and not have good pitching, and they both were on their game tonight. Addison did a great job pitching. We were having a hard time barreling it up and Leanna was also on her game, so just a fantastic effort by both teams. Defensively, both teams played incredible, so just an overall great softball game.”
Allaire only allowed two base runners through the first eight innings with no walks and 20 strikeouts
She carried a no-hitter into the ninth.
“Addi did her job in the circle, for sure,” said Trenton coach Kevin Benson. “We just didn’t do anything to help her at the plate. We failed to execute several bunts, and I think we had probably had seven or eight batters in scoring position that we just couldn’t push across because we weren’t executing at the plate and situational hitting. It was a very frustrating night at the plate for us. Leanna did a good job keeping our batters off balance.”
Both teams had a chance to win it in regulation.
Trenton (12-2) No. 9 hitter Presley Akins doubled, sending Santa Fe College commit Montana Moen, who had walked, to third base. After a line drive bunt was caught at third base, Bourdage struck out Lexi Faught to end the threat.
In the bottom of the seventh, FSCJ commit Lana Renicks was hit by a pitch and went from first to third on a sacrifice bunt by Emma Barton. However, Allaire struck out No. 5 hitter Makenna Young to send the game into extra innings.
The Tigers almost scored again in the top of the eighth inning.
With Faught at second base to start the inning, Allaire moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt. Faught came home on a passed ball, but Walsh was able to get it to Bourdage for a tag out at the plate.
“That’s just a great play by Roy Walsh, I mean, she just made the play, get the ball into Leanna and Leanna did her job covering the plate, and was there in time, and they made the play,” Chronister said. “But those are the types of plays that you have to make in games like this, right? You can’t beat good teams by just playing average ball. You have to play the top of your game, and I felt like we did that tonight.”
Trenton didn’t get its first hit until St. Leo University commit MacKenzie Fisher (2-for-3) singled to center field in the top of the fourth inning. She had two of their four hits.
Allaire struck out 11 in a row and 15 out of 16 from the second through the seventh and she struck out four in a row prior to the final inning.
“It was a really good game,” Allaire said. “Leanna did great. I had a pretty good night for myself, but my team stayed up, stayed behind me. I knew they were going to have my back behind me. It’s a tough loss, but we’ll learn from it and come back better.”
Trenton will host Dixie County (Cross City) next Thursday, while GHS will play at Buchholz on Tuesday.
