Hume baseball, softball swept at home

Hume's Robbie Spencer pitches during Wednesday's 17-4 home loss to Rich Hill.

By Eric Wade

Daily Mail Sports Editor

HUME -- The Hume Hornets and Lady Hornets baseball and softball teams made their return to their home field Wednesday, hoping to get back on the winning track against the Tigers and Lady Tigers of Rich Hill High School. That was not to be, however, as the home teams couldn't get much going in either game, ultimately handing Rich Hill the sweep.

Hume's Jake Ham connects for a hit during Wednesday's game.

In the baseball game, things got off to a rough start for Hume pitcher Robbie Spencer, as the Tigers took advantage of two hit batters, two walks and a hit to plate three runs. The Tigers went on to record three more hits in the second, on top of taking advantage of the game's first two errors to plate three more runs and open up a 6-0 lead.

Things just continued to go downhill from there for the Hornets as five more hits and four more errors allowed Rich Hill to extend the lead to 13-0 with seven more runs in the third. In the home half of that frame, however, the Hornets found their way onto the scoreboard with one run on a hit and a walk.

Both squads went down quietly in the fourth, but neither offense was done, just yet.

Hume's Billy Thompson crosses the plate for a run during Wednesday's game.

The Tigers exploded for four more runs on four hits and two Hume errors in the top of the fifth. Hume answered with a rally of its own in the home half of the frame, plating three runs -- the first of which was scored by right fielder Billy Thompson, who reached on a walk -- to cut the deficit to 14.

That was as close as head coach Colby Sisson's Hornets got, however, as Rich Hill held on to take the 17-4 victory in five innings. By the time all was said and done, the Tigers outhit Hume, 13-3, while Hume committed six errors to Rich Hill's one.

As the softball game began, things got off to a bit of a rough start for the home team once again as head coach Tammy Metcalf's squad was forced to play with just eight players as Kaitlee Metcalf was out with an arm injury and Hannah Jacobs had to come off the field after the first pitch, thanks to a leg injury.

Hume's Madison Cannon connects for a hit during Wednesday's game.

The Lady Tigers took full advantage of the short-handed opposition and the fact that regular catcher Megan Sutcliffe was moved to pitcher, opening up an early lead. Sutcliffe didn't allow a hit in the frame, but two walks and the game's first error was all the Lady Tigers needed to plate a pair of runs, putting the Lady Hornets in a 2-0 hole before they even came to bat.

In the home half of the frame, the Lady Hornets used some nontraditional methods of their own to get those two runs back, as they benefitted from a hit and three Rich Hill errors. One of those two runs was scored as a direct result of those errors, as Samantha Reno struck out swinging, but ended up circling the bases and scoring after Rich Hill couldn't seem to maintain control of the ball.

That was the only scoring of the night for the Lady Hornets, but Rich Hill's offense was far from done. The Lady Tigers put a quick and emphatic end to the contest as they plated 28 more runs over the next two innings to take the victory by a final score of 30-2, in three innings.

Hume's Megan Sutcliffe pitches during Wednesday's loss to Rich Hill.

By the time all was said and done, the Lady Tigers outhit Hume, 13-2, in the contest and committed three errors -- all in the first inning -- to Hume's six.

The Hornets and Lady Hornets got right back into action Thursday, at Ballard, but those results were not available. Next on the schedule for the Hornets and Lady Hornets is next Wednesday, when they host Montrose.

First pitch in the opening game of that baseball/softball doubleheader is set for 4:30 p.m., at Hume.