Centralia exploded for 15 hits and the Tigers rode their hit parade to a 10-5 road victory over Black Hills on Monday.
The Tigers came back from a 5-0 deficit after Black Hills pounded out five runs in the bottom of the first.
The Wolves held that lead until the fourth inning, where the Tigers countered with three runs, highlighted by Payton Baumel’s two-run single that scored Lauren Wasson and Lilianna Babka.
The Tigers put up another run in the fifth, four more in the sixth and capped off the top of the seventh with a pair of runs to extend their lead to 10-5.
“We just had to start making adjustments in the batter’s box,” Tiger coach David Orr said. “I tasked them with making adjustments on the fly and they all did. That was good to see.”
Six Tigers in total registered a muli-hit performance, led by Makayla Chavez, who went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Gracie Schofield (2 for 5), Jimena Luis (2 for 5) and Baumel (2 for 4) all drove in two runs each, while Liza Hubbard and Jadyn Hawley each smacked two hits and Ella Orr walked twice.
On the mound, the Tigers struck out just two total Wolves’ batters, but kept the walks and hits to a minimum.
Peyton Smith allowed five earned runs on two hits and two walks with a K, while Baumel tossed five scoreless innings of relief, striking out one and allowing five hits with one walk.
Orr praised Elizabeth Hubbard for coming off the bench and smacking two doubles, as well as freshman third baseman Holllyn Wakefield for turning a double play after snaring a line drive then doubling up a runner at second.
“She was kind of the difference-maker in the game; The momentum shift was right at that point,” Orr said of Hubbard. “And (Wakefield) owned third base tonight.”
Black Hills’ seven hits came from Elena Jones (2 for 3, one RBI), Zoey Theophilus (2 for 3), Madison Malone (2 for 3, one RBI, one run) and Sam West (1 for 4).
On the mound, Theophilus fanned six and allowed six earned runs on 15 hits and two walks across seven innings.
Centralia (3-2) hosts Aberdeen at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Black Hills (0-5) hits the road to Shelton for a 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
