HOPE — Whether it was at the plate or in the field defensively, it was all Connersville right from the opening pitch Wednesday night.
The Spartans pitched a combined perfect game to shut out Hauser 12-0 in five innings.
“We were flat. Fifteen at-bats in five innings. Three-up-and-three-down for five innings in a row. We had an off night. It happens,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. “(Connersville coach) Steve (Ruble) has been doing this a long time, and they were ready to play.”
The Spartans picked up two runs in the top of the first on three hits, capped off with a single to drive in both runs for a 2-0 lead. They increased the lead to 5-0 in the top of the second with three more runs on three hits. Jada Green hit a triple to drive in two of those runs in the inning. After Connersville put its first two batters on base, Shelby Wolski hit an RBI-double, and then McKenna Lucas smacked a three-run home run to increase the lead to 9-0. The Spartans eventually added another three more runs to end the top of the third.
The Jets (4-3) didn’t help themselves defensively, committing an error to begin each of the first three innings that kickstarted each Connersville rally against Hauser pitcher Paige McDaniel.
Kindred Conley pitched three innings and struck out one for the Spartans, and Avery Dungan pitched the final two innings to complete the perfect game.
The Jets return to Mid-Hoosier Conference action the next three days when they host Waldron today, visit Waldron on Friday and then host Edinburgh on Saturday. Hauser also will host Indianapolis Lutheran on Saturday afternoon.
