Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
CARTERVILLE — The Carterville Lady Lions were rather rude hosts Saturday, just missing out on a pair of perfect games on the way to a pair of shutout wins over Carbondale and Tolono Unity.
Lady Lions sophomore Caidence Phillips came within one out of a perfect game, settling for a 1-hit shutout in a 9-0 win over Tolono Unity. Phillips struck out the first 15 batters she faced and did not allow a ball into play until Kenley Harris flied out to left to open the sixth inning.
Phillips took a perfect game into the seventh. After fanning the first two batters, Ruby Tarr ended the bid for perfection with a line drive single to center. Phillips then fanned Sophia Beckett to end the game, her school record 19th strikeout in the 22 batters she faced. Teammate Taryn Ford set the previous record of 18 three days earlier.
In the day’s first game, Carterville, behind Ford, beat Carbondale 10-0 in five innings. Ford allowed only one hit, striking out 13 of the 16 batters she faced.
The Terriers rallied to beat Unity 9-8 in the day’s other game.
