CLINTON-The Lawrence County Lady Cougars hammered Clinton 16-6 in slow-pitch softball action Tuesday night, at Clinton High School. The Lady Cougars banged out 17 hits in 5 innings, including back-to-back-to-back homeruns in the top of the first. The win capped off a very long day for Meleah Howard’s girls.

That LCHS played at Clinton is a story in itself. The Lawrence County team awoke Tuesday morning thinking it was going to play at Franklin County that evening, only to learn during the course of the day, that Franklin County’s schedule had the Lady Bulldogs playing on the road, against a different opponent. Desperately wanting to find a game-the Lady Cougars’ last scheduled contest, at Wesson, had been rained out-Coach Howard called around and eventually drummed up a date with the 6A Lady Arrows.

Clinton was slated to host Vicksburg in a division contest at 6 p.m. Thus, the Lady Cougars had to wait out that game-Clinton won by a 20-7 score-before taking the field. Finally, after 7:30 p.m., the LCHS/Clinton game started.

“It all made for a long night,” said Howard, “but we needed to play. We hadn’t played a game in a week. I appreciate Clinton letting us come and play, and I thought we played a good game, against a quality opponent. We swung the bats well tonight.”

The heavy hitting started early in the game. In the top of the first, with one out, Josey Nations, Jordan Harp, and Maddux Kirkland hit consecutive homeruns, staking the Lady Cougars to a 3-0 lead. That lead didn’t last, however, as Clinton’s Kiara Vance whacked a 3-run shot in the bottom of the inning that put the Lady Arrows ahead 4-3.

Lawrence County’s Amanda Rushing doubled and scored in the top of the second, knotting the game at 4-4. Clinton again responded, scoring twice in the bottom of the frame to take a 6-4 lead. After that, it was all LCHS.

The Lady Cougars scored 4 in the top of the third to grab an 8-6 lead, then erupted for 7 runs in the top of the fourth. A single run in the fifth gave Lawrence County its 10-run margin. The game was halted via the 10-run rule after 5 innings.

Harp and Kirkland both went 4-for-4 for Lawrence County. Both had a homerun and 3 singles. Rushing added 3 hits, including a double. Nations had 2, a homer and a double. Tyranesha Davis, Barri Rogers, Sydney Pevey, and Callie Fortenberry each had 1 hit for LCHS.

Lawrence County’s defensive highlights both came in the fourth inning. With 1 out and a runner on first, right-center fielder Tyranesha Davis made a diving grab of an Abby Simpson flair that appeared destined to fall for a hit. One batter later, Clinton’s Sara Beth Smith hit a vicious liner over the head of shortstop Sydney Pevey. Pevey leaped up and snared the line drive, and quickly flipped to second baseman Josey Nations for an inning-ending double play.

Clinton got 2 hits each from Cera Cade and Chelsea Waddell.

Lawrence County improved to 11-2 with the win. The Lady Cougars travel to West Lincoln Thursday evening. Junior varsity action begins a 5 p.m., with the varsity game starting shortly therafter.