By SHELIA MADER
Published: April 3, 2008

The Chipola Lady Indians improved to 8-2 in conference play, taking sole possession of first place with back-to-back wins over Gulf Coast Wednesday at Chipola Field.

With a packed crowd of Lady Commodore supporters out to see Jill Mathis’ return to Marianna, this time as a standout for the rival Panhandle Conference team, Chipola held Gulf Coast to just two runs in two games, picking up a 2-1 victory in game one and a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.

Brooke Muth took the mound in the first game, retiring the first 10 batters she faced before giving up a single in the fourth inning to Amanda Byers. A double by Alana Hadley scored Byers. The next six batters were retired in order before Muth gave up a single and walk in the sixth but escaped any runs scoring on an off-the-fence catch by Monica Kennedy to save a run and end the inning.

Chipola struck first in the bottom of the first inning with a lead-off single by Chastity Covington, who scored on a single by Carolyn Moore.

With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, Tera Gainer sailed the first pitch she saw across the fence to end the game.

In game two, it was a return to their high school days for former Sneads standout Amber Weeks and the former Marianna standout Mathis.

The tables were reversed at Chipola Wednesday afternoon, as it was Weeks picking up the win, going six innings and giving up just the one run.
Muth came on in the seventh to close out the game for the Lady Indians.

Mathis took the loss, giving up three runs on four hits. After allowing a lead-off walk, a fielder’s choice got the lead runner at second. A line drive double play retired the Lady Commodores with no runs crossing the plate. Mathis retired the top of Lady Indians lineup in the first inning.

Gulf Coast scored first with a run in the second inning. Weeks settled and got out of a bases loaded dilemma with just the one run crossing the plate.
In the second inning, after two quick outs, it was again Gainer whose solo homerun tied the game at one. Gulf Coast had an opportunity in the third inning with the bases loaded, but Weeks worked out of it with no runs scoring.

Chipola plated their final two runs in the bottom of the third inning. A lead-off single by Muth was followed by a single by Monica Kennedy.  Muth stole home on a passed ball before a sacrifice by Destiny Covington moved Kennedy to third.

A hit batter put runners on the corners for Carolyn Moore’s RBI double.

Mathis induced a fielder’s choice, a fly out to short and sat the final batter down swinging to end the inning. An error in right field in the top of the seventh inning was the only base runner allowed by Chipola in the final four innings.

Chipola will be on the road Saturday, traveling to Madison to take on North Florida in conference play.