Crusaders Cruise to Victory

Maclay Girls Softball Loses 5-20 Against Wakulla Christian

Photo by Laura Zaidan/Maclay Andalusian

On Tuesday, March 26, the Maclay Marauders took on the Wakulla Christian Crusaders in a home game at 4:30 p.m. Going into the game, the Marauders record was 2-4 and they hoped to gain another win for the season. The Crusaders had other plans as they handed Maclay their fifth loss this season.

Senior Victoria Gainey started on the mound for the Marauders and was able to shut out the Crusaders for the first two innings. With help from the offense, Maclay was able to take an early 1-0.

“I think the downfall was the lack of energy as a team and not playing behind each other,” Gainey said. “If we can stay up when we have our lead I think that we can start winning games.”

At the top of the third, the Crusaders put up eight runs off of three errors. Maclay would answer the eight runs with a run of their own in the bottom of the third, making the score 8-2.

“I think that we had a lot of missed opportunities, especially with routine plays,” senior Riley Elliot said. “We stress ourselves out too much and I think that’s what led us to making those errors.”

The Crusaders would go on to score six more runs in the top of the fourth off of another error. Maclay scored no runs in the fourth and the Crusaders lead would be pushed to 12.

“Our offense couldn’t get started and when we did we couldn’t keep it going,” Elliot said. “Once we are able to get our offense rolling we will be able to win games.”

In the top of the fifth inning, the Crusaders would score six more, pushing their lead to 18. Maclay would answer in the bottom of the fifth with three runs of their own, but it wouldn’t be enough and they would take the loss in five innings to the Crusaders. Maclay would move to 2-5 on the season and would fall to third in their district. Maclay will play their next game on Thursday, March 28 at home against Blountstown at 3:30 p.m. 

“This loss helped us realize that if we want to start winning we need to start playing as a team and having energy and being confident in what we have,” Gainey said.