The Platte County softball team came up short against Smithville and Staley for a pair of back-to-back losses at home in the final week of September.
The Pirates held on to a 10-3 lead over the Warriors on Sept. 28, but Platte County allowed nine runs in the sixth inning to fall, 12-10. The Pirates took their first lead in the bottom of the third inning when they had six hits to take a 4-3 advantage.
In the following inning, Smithville went scoreless and Platte County added six runs to take a 7-run lead. T.K Lawson started the high-scoring inning off with a 2-run home run, followed by four doubles by the next seven batters.
Emma Reed singled in the inning to go along with the doubles from Mackenzie Shields, Demi Riechers, Anna Crowell and Avery Webster to score the Pirates’ final runs of the contest.
After Platte County led 10-3 entering the sixth inning, Smithville’s offense caught fire with seven hits to take a 12-10 lead. The Pirates were unable to respond as a double by Riechers in the bottom of the sixth inning was the only Platte County hit for the rest of the contest.
The Pirates ended with 15 hits on the day, led by Reed and Riechers with three hits each. Webster finished with a team-high 3 RBIs while Lawson and Reed both added 2 RBIs.
On Sept. 29, the Pirates hosted Staley and lost 4-1 after allowing all four runs in the first three innings. Platte County’s offense struggled early as no batter had a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning.
After Reynolds was walked by Staley’s pitcher, Lawson singled and they were both advanced when Shields grounded out at first base. The Falcons had an error when Koree Church connected on a ground ball, resulting in Reynolds crossing home plate for the Pirates’ only run of the night.
Platte County had two more hits in the contest but couldn’t find a way to score another run and the Pirates lost their second home game in two days. Lawson ended with two hits while Kallie Hitzelberger pitched the entire contest and struck out two batters.