SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - The Mount Vernon varsity softball team couldn't overcome an early five-run deficit on Wednesday afternoon, falling to the 6A Dunwoody Wildcats (7-1) 14-5 in six innings at the Glenn Campus Softball Field.
The Wildcats posted five runs in the first inning, the first two on a 2-RBI double by Walker Wicklund to plate Gracie Rockett and Samantha Moss.
Wicklund came home one batter later when Nicole Mulford singled to right field for a 3-0 Dunwoody advantage.
Mulford would cross the dish two batters later when Kayla Chiang singled to left field. Sarah Goodelman scored the final run of the top half of the first, crossing the plate on a wild pitch and giving the Wildcats a 5-0 early lead.
The Mustangs answered with one run in the bottom of the first inning to cut the deficit to 5-1.
After Savannah Messner tripled to lead off the frame, Kendall Slayden grounded out to short to plate Messner.
After a scoreless second , the Wildcats plated one run in the third on a Goodelman home run to left-center to take a 6-1 lead.
The Mustangs responded with three runs in the bottom half, the first two coming on a Bella Dishman single to left field to bring home Messner and Slayden.
Dishman scored on the sequence as well as a result of two throwing errors by the Wildcat defense to trail 6-4 after three innings.
In the top of the fourth, Dunwoody played long-ball again, this time off the bat of Wicklund over the right-center field fence to push the Wildcat lead to 7-4.
In the top of the fifth, Dunwoody scored another run when Rockett doubled in Chiang to double-up Mount Vernon 8-4.
Mount Vernon added its final run of the contest in the fifth inning.
After Messner's second triple of the game, Slayden grounded out to short to plate Messner for an 8-5 Wildcat lead.
Dunwoody busted out the lumber in the top of the sixth to bring the run-rule into effect.
The Wildcats scored six runs on three hits that included RBI singles from Jaida McCord and Moss to lead 14-5.
The Mustangs were set down in the bottom half of the sixth to end the game.
Chiang picked up the win in the circle for Dunwoody, tossing six innings, allowing five runs and five hits while striking out seven.
Slayden (1-4) took the loss for Mount Vernon.
The Mustangs are back on the diamond on Thursday afternoon, August 23, hosting the Trinity Christian Lions (3-4) in a Region 5-A match up.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Glenn Campus Softball Field.
The Mount Vernon Athletic Department strives to build the student-athlete by providing a five-star experience built on community, relentlessness, innovation, hospitality and professionalism. As a school of inquiry, innovation and impact grounded in Christian values, we prepare all students to be college-ready, globally competitive, and engaged citizen leaders. For more information on Mount Vernon athletics, visit www.mountvernonathletics.com and follow @MV_Athletics on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news on the Mustangs.
BOX SCORE:
DUNWOODY 14, MOUNT VERNON 5
DW 501-106 -- 14-14-4
MV 103-010 -- 4-5-5
WP: Kayla Chiang. LP: Kendall Slayden (1-3).
2B: DW - Walker Wicklund; MV - Slayden.
3B: MV - Savannah Messner 2.
HR: DW - Sarah Goodelman, Wicklund.
Records: Dunwoody 7-1; Mount Vernon 1-4.
Next: Trinity Christian (Sharpsburg) at Mount Vernon, 5 p.m., Thursday.
