Polk relies on fundamentals in five-inning rout of Hendersonville

Solid pitching, solid defense and aggressive baserunning – such are the core tenets of Polk County softball, and all were on full display Thursday.

The Wolverines earned their seventh straight win, rolling past Hendersonville 10-0 in a five-inning Western Highlands Conference matchup at Polk County.

Freshman Ashley Scruggs pitched a one-hitter, striking out eight, and the Wolverines (10-2, 4-1) scored five times in the first inning to give Scruggs all the offensive support she would need.

“I’m having fun. The girls are playing well,” said head coach Jeff Wilson. “They’re playing for and rooting for each other. There’s a genuine bond and chemistry, and they’re rooting for the other girls to succeed.”

Scruggs gave up a hit to the second batter of the game, and Hendersonville loaded the bases in the top of the first with two outs. But Scruggs got a ground ball back to the mound to end the inning, the first of 13 straight batters she retired as Hendersonville never had a base runner after the first inning.

In that span, Polk received a nice running catch from Maddy Foy on a Hendersonville bunt and four ground balls handled flawlessly in the infield.

“Ashley Scruggs won four games for us this week in a four-day span,” Wilson said. “She’s very crafty and game savvy, which is something special for a freshman.”

With Hayley Kropp reaching on an error to open the bottom of the first, Brittany Jones followed with an RBI double to right. Ashley Kropp and Foy reached on ground balls before Alexis McCraw singled to left to drive in a run.

Scruggs and Brandi Cordell followed with RBI singles to left as the Wolverines built their 5-0 lead.

Polk added two runs in the third, with Foy scoring on a wild pitch after walking to open the inning and Cordell driving in a run with a groundout, then another in the fourth on Foy’s RBI single to right.

The Wolverines then ended the game in the fifth as Kassidy Reynolds and Kinsley Jackson walked and Hayley Kropp hammered a drive to the center-field fence to score both.

“Brandi Cordell is really playing well for us,” Wilson said. “Carolyn Couch is as well. They’re giving us two left-handed hitters. We ned lefties that can put the ball into play.”

Jones and Scruggs each had two hits and Cordell and Kropp each drove in two runs for Polk County, which hosts Madison on Tuesday in a key conference matchup.