Craker & Hopkins Blank Frank Phillips Twice

Seward County's 1-2 pitching punch of Katelyn Craker and Brittany Hopkins flexed their muscles Thursday afternoon in Borger, Texas, each dealing shutouts as the Lady Saints swept Frank Phillips with 7-0 and 8-0 victories to improve to 15-2 on the year.

It didn't take long for the Lady Saints to get things going in game one of the double header.  In the top half of the 1^st Seward scored three times, getting an RBI triple from Pokey Ewell and an RBI double from Becky Allen before Frank Phillips' second error of the inning made it 3-0 Lady Saints. 

Seward starter Katelyn Craker kept the score there through three and worked her way out of trouble in the 4^th as the score remained 3-0 in favor of the Lady Saints. 

The first three hitters of the Seward 5^th reached base and a bases loaded walk to Carmen Hughes pushed a run across to make it 4-0.  Tiffanie Bolanos singled on the first pitch she saw to score Becky Allen from third to make it 5-0 and later in the inning the Lady Saints added another run on Frank Phillips fourth error of the game to give Seward a 6-0 lead.

Craker continued her strong afternoon, working around a two out single in the bottom half of the 5^th to keep the Lady Plainsmen off the board and keep the Lady Saints on top 6-0.  

Seward added an insurance run in the 6^th as Andrea Sitter got a bunt single to start the inning and came around to score later in the inning on yet another Frank Phillips error to make it 7-0. 

That was more than enough for Craker who sailed through the 6^th and 7^th innings to pick up the 7-0 shutout win for Seward.  

Seward outhit Frank Phillips 9-5 in the win and took advantage of 5 Lady Plainsmen errors in the contest.  Allen finished 3 for 4 for Seward and scored 2 runs as well as drove in another.  Andrea Sitter had 2 hits and 2 runs scored for the Lady Saints and also stole a base in the win.  Craker went the distance, allowing just 5 hits while striking out 3 to earn her 8^th win of the season.

SEWARD COUNTY/FRANK PHILLIPS GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Seward had traffic in the 1^st inning against the Lady Plainsmen in game two, getting a pair of free baserunners on an error and a walk as well as a single from Sitter, but they couldn't find a way to score a run and left two on at innings end. 

Frank Phillips had a chance to score as well in their half of the 1^st as they picked up a one out single and a two out walk, but like Seward, they left two on as the third out was made to keep the game scoreless after 1. 

The Lady Saints got on the board in the 2^nd as Vanessa Oakden drove in Hughes who singled to start the inning to put Seward on top 1-0. 

Seward starter Brittany Hopkins settled in and put up zeroes on Frank Phillips in the 2^nd and 3^rd innings to keep Seward in front 1-0. 

The Lady Saints couldn't find a way to add to their lead, but thanks to Hopkins, they didn't need to as it remained 1-0 through 5. 

Seward finally got things going again on the offensive end in the top half of the 6^th as Ewell and Allen singled back to back with one out and both scored as Danielle Orr drilled a double to the gap to put the Lady Saints up 3-0.  Later in the inning Bolanos lined a single to center to score Orr and after 5 ½ Seward had built their lead to 4-0. 

Hopkins kept the lead there with a quick bottom half of the 6^th inning and the Lady Saints gave her more of a cushion as they came to hit in the 7^th.  The first two hitters of the inning reached base and a one out Frank Phillips error allowed a run to come home to make it 5-0.  Allen then singled to drive home another Seward run to make it 6-0 and with two outs in the inning Hughes poked a single to left to score two more to put the Lady Saints comfortably in front 8-0. 

The help was more than Hopkins would need in the circle.  She worked a nine pitch bottom half of the 7^th to keep her shutout intact and closed out an 8-0 win for the Lady Saints. 

Seward pounded out 11 hits in the win including 2 each from Sitter, Allen, Bolanos, and Hughes.  Hopkins picked up the win, going all 7 innings and allowing just 5 hits and 1 walk in the shutout. 

SEWARD COUNTY/FRANK PHILLIPS GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Seward improves to 15-2 on the year with the two victories.  Frank Phillips falls to 4-15 as their tough start to the season continues. 

The Lady Saints were scheduled to play in a tournament in Garden City over the weekend but weather has cancelled those plans.  Seward will get a ramp up in competition in their next contests as they take on Jayhawk West rival Butler on Thursday at Lady Saints Field in Liberal to open conference play.