Philomath High’s softball team evened its record in the Oregon West to 3-3 after defeating Sweet Home for the second time this season. Playing on the road Thursday, the Warriors never trailed in a 9- victory.
Freshman pitcher Hailey Smith faced 30 batters and allowed just five hits and one walk with four strikes in a complete-game performance. For the season, Smith has a 3.10 earned run average with 58 strikeouts against 18 walks.
The Warriors provided run support in the second inning by putting up four runs on the scoreboard. Sweet Home errors factored into the inning. The team’s third and fourth runs scored on a Smith single to right.
After the Huskies scored a run in the bottom of the fourth, the game remained 4-1 into the sixth inning. Philomath’s bats came alive with sophomore Haley King and senior Kaylie Kohler hitting back-to-back doubles. King’s hit drove in freshman Libby Kramer, who led off the inning by reaching on an error. Kohler’s double plated senior Zoee Howard, who had singled earlier, and King. Kohler later scored on an error.
The Warriors added another run to their total in the seventh on a one-run single by King. Karmer, who led off the inning with a double, scored on the hit.
Philomath collected 13 hits in the win with five players finishing with multiple hits. Smith went 3 for 4, senior Janae Traglia was 2 for 3, Kramer and King each went 2 for 4 and Kohler was 2 for 5.
Philomath (9-6 overall, 3-3 Oregon West) and Sweet Home (11-5, 3-3) are tied for third in the league standings, although the Warriors have the head-to-head advantage with two wins over the Huskies. The Warriors will play at home at 5 p.m. Monday against Stayton (8-6, 4-2).
