Fulton senior first baseman Taylor Kettle had two hits, including a home run, as the Fulton Lady Hornets softball team turned back the South Callaway Lady Bulldogs 5-3 on Tuesday night at the high school athletic complex.
With Fulton (6-5) leading 1-0, Kettle's two-run homer triggered a four-run outburst in the bottom of the third inning. South Callaway (1-3) countered with a run in the top of the fourth and tallied two runs in the fifth, but couldn't complete its comeback.
"It always seems like these cross-county games are going to be tight," Lady Hornets head coach Tim Echelmeier said. "It was good to see them find a way to win, even though we made a couple mistakes in the field and on the bases - me included."
Kettle finished 2-for-3 with a double, two runs batted in and two runs scored as Fulton collected eight hits. Junior catcher Paige Clines was also 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, while junior right fielder Kayla Neal went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Junior starter Hayden Echelmeier gave up three runs - only one earned - and scattered four hits over 5 2/3 innings to stay unbeaten for the Lady Hornets. Echelmeier (4-0) struck out four and issued two walks.
Junior catcher Kassidy Logan finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and scored a run for the Lady Bulldogs, while senior right fielder Raeghan Meyer was 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Junior third baseman Kayleigh Torufa went 1-for-4 with a double and scored a run.
Sophomore starter Hannah Mistler lasted just two innings in being tagged with the loss for South Callaway. Mistler allowed four runs - three earned - on three hits, struck out two and walked one.
On Monday night, Fulton capitalized on five Hannibal errors in a 14-6 North Central Missouri Conference romp over the visiting Lady Pirates.
Down 3-0 after Hannibal put up three runs in the top of the first, the Lady Hornets (2-0 NCMC) answered with a run in their half of the first and erupted for five runs in the second to go in front 6-3.
Fulton heaped on three runs in the third and four runs in the fourth to stretch its lead to 13-3. The Lady Pirates produced their other three runs in the fifth and the Lady Hornets added a run in the sixth to close out the scoring.
Kettle - serving as designated hitter - was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, three RBI and four runs scored to fuel Fulton's 12-hit attack. Junior catcher Rylee Hagens also finished 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and scored three runs.
Sophomore outfielder Kyela Macon went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, one RBI and two runs scored for the Lady Hornets. Clines was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Fulton junior pitcher Sydney Hedgpath threw a complete game to earn her first victory of the season. Hedgpath (1-1) surrendered six earned runs on nine hits, struck out four and walked one.
The Lady Hornets go to Kirksville for an NCMC matchup at 5 p.m. Thursday. South Callaway hosts its Show-Me Conference opener against Tuscumbia at 5 p.m. Thursday.