Only one inning had elapsed in Friday’s baseball game, and the Morgan Academy Senators were leading the Southern Academy Cougars 13-0. Two innings later, the game was over.

Struggles at the mound and at the plate for Southern allowed Morgan to win 18-0 in three innings Friday at Morgan. The Senators got on base early and often, while Bishop Price and Woodham Kemmer pitched a shutout.

Although it was only in three innings, Morgan head coach Jeremy Carter liked what he saw from his team all-around.

“[Southern] walked a few batters, hit a few batters, kind of helped us get home, but when we needed a hit they came through,” Carter said.

Kemmer and Jackson Henderson opened the game strong with a single and a double on the first two at-bats. The game started to unravel quickly for the Cougars, as the next five Morgan batters were walked. Of those five, three consecutive batters — Bishop Price, Gunnar Henderson and Sawyer Hopkins — were all hit by a pitch.

The Senators took a 13-0 lead into the second inning, where Price pitched another scoreless inning. The challenges at pitcher continued for Southern, as Morgan drew multiple walks to take a 16-0 lead at the end of the second inning.

Kemmer came to the mound in the third inning to pitch his only inning of the game. Once again, the Cougars struggled to get anything going offensively. The Senators added two runs in the third inning and the game was called shortly after.

During the game, Carter was able to give some of his bench players extra playing time. He said those extra reps could always come in handy down the road.

“It always helps getting extra guys in because you never know who might get hurt or may have a hurt arm or a hurt shoulder. You never know about freak accidents, but you’ve got to have the next guy prepared to step up and do their job as well,” Carter said.

The Senators are on the road Saturday to face Escambia Academy for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.

 

Morgan Academy softball falls to Southern Academy 7-1

Unlike the Morgan baseball game, the Senators’ softball game against Southern Academy lasted all seven innings. Morgan ultimately couldn’t keep up, however, and the Senators fell 7-1 to the Eagles.

Ansley Smitherman, the starting pitcher for the Senators, struck out seven batters, but allowed just as many runs in her seven innings at the mound.

The Senators took a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning, but two runs in the third inning gave the Cougars a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Senators allowed three runs to score, expanding their deficit to 6-1.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Smitherman blasted a shot to deep left field for a double. She was stranded there for the rest of the inning, however, as the Morgan bats weren’t able to find a consistent rhythm.

Southern added one more run in the seventh inning to complete a six-run victory.

The Senators’ baseball and softball teams are on the road Saturday to face Escambia Academy for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.