Softball: Cougars Edge Out Rams with 1-0 Victory

The Oakton High softball team squeaked out a one-run win over Robinson in an unexpected pitchers' duel Tuesday.

The Cougars scored the only run of the game in the first inning off a double down the left field line from Emily Krisanda to score Allison Davis, who reached base on a single in the previous at-bat. 

Krisanda's game-winning RBI is the last in a string of clutch hits, Coach Ray Gordon said. 

"We rely on Emily Corridon a lot, but we're only just getting her back into the lineup," Gordon said. "Emily Krisanda has been huge for us lately, she has hit three home runs and leads the team in RBI. She has really carried this team."

The low final score came as a surprise to the Cougars, as the Rams have allowed an average of 8.5 runs per game this season. The Cougars left 11 runners stranded, a statistic that left Gordon dissatisfied with the win. 

"We were selfish tonight. We took selfish at-bats. It wasn't that we weren't being clutch. Anybody who has seen us play knows when we're successful, we're hitting the ball up the middle," Gordon said. "Tonight the girls decided to do it their way instead of my way, so I'm not very happy with how we played."

Allison Davis gave up two hits in the complete game shutout, throwing 12 strikeouts and one walk. 

"We played pretty solid defense tonight, and Allison was Allison," Gordon said. "So we were able to hold them, and that's the positive from tonight."

Tuesday's win puts the Cougars 3-0 in the Concorde District, and Gordon is confident the girls will learn from the game's mistakes to continue to be successful deep into the postseason. 

"We were two innings away from the state tournament last year, and we pretty much have the same team from last year," Gordon said. "I know we can go far."

The Cougars will play a nondistrict game 6:30 p.m. today against Stone Bridge. They will next face a Concorde District opponent 6:30 p.m. Friday at home against Centreville.